tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86490593780778216822024-03-12T19:47:55.562-07:00Flame the Fire and Fuel the DesireIn every one of us , there is this energy which keeps us going , sometimes its low sometimes it high , its the same as fire burning . And for every human , desire is the need and energy is the fire in us . So thus comes the name flame the fire in you and fuel the desire to achieve.Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-43988529355143206292014-09-11T08:24:00.002-07:002014-09-11T08:27:23.746-07:00Chapter 9 - Herby in Hyderabad ....and a Indigo joins in<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">So here we are.. Herby in Hyderabad , the city of the famous Hyderabad biriyani and lots more. Hyderabad is not a new city for me , spent a few years of schooling in my endless house hopping journeys. Our new home was being built and our temporary accommodation was dads office guest house which doubled up as the company's training centre . A training centre where fresh graduates come in and go through a training , induction process to formally get into the company main stream of activities.The new training centre being built was 90 kilometres away on the other side of the city and Herby had a real good run clocking up kilometres day in day out with dad at the wheel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soon age seem to have caught up with both dad and herby , at 12 years Herby's suspension wasn't any softer and passed on the jerks to dad's spinal cord which was equally old at 48 . And dad from the company he worked for was entitled for a chauffeur driver and car.Thus began the hunt for a newer car , a car which could be fuel efficient considering the distance covered and offer luxury at a value price. Well before you think luxury means Bms or audis or mercs , hang on .... the car we bought was a Tata Indigo , well for those who want to know about tata , Tata now owns Jaguar and Land rover and makes Trucks , Buses all sort of things. Well as far as the Indigo was concerned , an Australian equivalent would be a top end variant of the Nissan Tilda. From a performance perspective , the Indigo was truly outclassing our herby , had a 1.6 Turbo Diesel and of course manual transmission , leather seats and a audio with aux were already ready. I must admit that during the initial days , my attention was diverted to our newer car ignoring Herby. The Indigo was faster and going at 100 was a breeze , and the turbo was comedy by itself . The turbo would only kick in at a certain rev and when it did , I found myself in a situation trying to control a raging bull unable to get the right driving characteristic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the arrival of Indigo had a silver lining , now it meant that after 100000 km on the clock , a worn suspension , No frilled Herby's keys were finally handed over to me. Herby was now mine ! Truly mine. And I was simply overjoyed , ok maybe a corner of me wished for the new car but nevertheless getting a car is good enough. Herby now in my hands of course , but not without a few last moment customisations . I ensured Dad changed the ageing seat upholstery and put in a audio with Aux. The budget was stringent but this is the least i expected , considering i always loved my music and the seats should be a little worthy of ferrying a few girl friends around town , so u see see am in my college days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soon I wasn't too fussed about the Indigo being used by my dad and would stand by my Herby challenging him that Id beat him any day in a race knowing very well I would definitely lose. Though I did have a few motivational factors to think that I could , I had a small car with a petrol engine and dint really have to be too bothered about how i drive Herby , no matter what maintenance is low. while the Indigo was pretty new , the car is hug and cant move around in traffic as easy as mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So much for personal ego , to date the cars never raced , they were good in their respective places. But I did have a few antics on my belt with Herby , most notably doing a turn on 3 wheels at 70 kph and a sharp one at that. It happened when I was at the wheel with my dad and a friend of his. I was in the right lane going at around 70 when dad was cross at me for missing an exit and the next option to turn back was to cross a bridge do a U turn and come back. My local knowledge of the suburb by now meant that I knew the roads well and that I dint have to cross the bridge and have one last option to go under the bridge and flip around through a series of inner roads. The only trouble is I am on the right lane doing 70 and that turn was smack left in front of me , in a split second I swerved the steering cutting across 3 lanes moving the car in 3 wheels and then doing a hard left and a hard right and to get the car back on 4 wheels slowing down slamming on my brakes. To this day dads friend will never forget this ride and he calls it his near death experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To me it was a near youth fun experience , I dint get away easy and was banned from driving until I showed signs of not showing road rage which meant a good month of sitting in the passenger seat rather than the driver seat. Nothing goes in vain , because i learnt driving watching dad drive and driving is a learning process right from darting in darting out , changing gears at the right time and knowing where your car will fit into.</span><br />
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Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-60378168302183797962012-02-04T20:45:00.001-08:002012-02-04T20:45:34.003-08:00Chapter 8 - A new journey begins with a loss …..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">August 2005 .The day when we had to pack up and leave behind the city I call home. Mumbai , the place where I grew up and made my actual long lasting friends. There is something about that city I can never explain and alas! The time had come to depart for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Dad was already transferred to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city> and was still hanging in Mumbai thanks to horrible attempts in finishing my high school. Mumbai was at its usual best , complete rains and the day we were to depart the sun had come out . The packer guy said that the truck could finally head out of city to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city>. A very very emotional moment and we started Herby moving out of the colony for one last time , eyes filled with tears just gazed at the roads which I have been travelling back and forth ,for these would soon be memories. Crossing the Vashi sea link and hitting the shores of Mainland <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> , we drove along until we reached the beginning of the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Dad handed over Herby to me and under the watchful eyes of Dad began my drive. Of course he was looking at the speedo , so that I don’t exceed 80kmph. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">40 kilometres into the expressway approaching the ghats , I noticed my dad sleeping and I moved onto the right lane . Just entering the Bhatan tunnel with a Volvo on my left , I was whizzing away overtaking the bus , when my dad woke up and yelled Shyam! Cut down , Whoops in my excitement to overtake the bus and a smooth road , I dint notice the speedometer , it read 110kmph. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Settled down for a cruising 100 and soon we reached Pune by evening , with a little juggle through the city , we were out on the other end on our way to next major town called <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sholapur</st1:city></st1:place>. 2 hrs into the drive and we took a halt a roadside dhabha , which I would remember for quite some years to come for a specific reason. Why ???? Hang on folks its coming soon …</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">After the brief halt , we were back on the road and Dad took over , dusk fell and along with it came rain. That drive was tough , with rain tearing through the evening , visibility was low and made it impossible for us to drive , but dad moved on . Suddenly from now where we were over taken by the shiny flashing light car . It was a Contessa( a yesteryear luxury car) of a district collector . The yellow beacon light was so bright that we could see it for miles .Dad stepped on the accelerator and regardless of what speed we were in tailed the beacon car for as long as he could until a time came where we could catch up no more. The car had more power and obviously had the advantage of the beacon at a few places. I think it was god’s way of saying all right buck up your are mere civilians . </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Night fell and we stopped at a place called Mohol , seemed like a okayish place for a night sleep. We retired to sleep and next morning in the first instant of dawn we began, I took over wheel again and we just came out of the Hotel and barely a 100 metres , I realised my purse missing. We went back to the hotel and searched everywhere , to no avail . </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Its when it struck me that I had left behind my purse accidently on the dhabha near Pune . Well they say you should get blessing/darshan from elderly people or god when a new day begins, I sure got it from my dad. Not only did I lose my purse , along with it went my driving license and 2500 bucks in cash and It turns out that Dad who had given me that money was the only cash we had. Uh oh and oh for 10 minutes I was at the receiving end of my fatherly blessings , and all I could do is keep my mouth shut and probably keep it under my seat . </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Soon things cooled and then Dad blurted out , you bugger! that was the only cash which had to be used for fueling Herby. Which village petrol pump do you think is going to have credit card facility. I still threw a sulky face .Well that mean I cant drive anymore and dad took over , all the fiasco delayed us a good 45 minutes and Dad was in furious mood showed it at the wheel , I think we were hitting 100 constantly until a place where a dog ran across and too late ! We could brake in time , and thud ! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">50 metres further we stopped the car , It dint seem like the day was going too well for us , a lost license and now a dog hit . To our surprise we saw the dog walking away on the other side , don’t ask us how it escaped . Well a good look at the front showed us the right bumper taking the impact with the indicator lamps also broken. Not too bad , but yes that’s where the thud came from. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Started again and soon dad began to worry about one hour down the road , asked him why and he said , we are low on fuel. 6 am in the morning and the petrol pumps weren’t open either. The needle was just a shade above the E mark , E means empty , damn …. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">A few kilometres as we cut down our speed to increase the mileage , we noticed a bunk guy just opening the petrol station . We went to him and said you accept cards , he gave us one weird look , He said no card and with the little money dad had we filled Herby . </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">15 litres and all dad was left now was with 100 rs in hand. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">We calculated 15 litres should take us thru 300 kilometres and hopefully we should be able to find one more Petrol station which of course now has to accept credit cards. Back on the road and we drove along letting kilometres run away , after 4 hours we noticed fuel indicator close to E again . Dad now was getting worried , with all his calculations we had covered 290 odd kilometres . Did we underestimate the mileage , he was asking me ? </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">I had no answer and couldn’t still reeling under my morning shock. 5 minutes later a big petrol station and credit cards and dhaba and eateries. Phewww We stopped Herby tanked up full and after a sip of coffee started again to reach <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city> at 10 AM. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Herby now in a brand new city in the Southern State of Andhra Pradesh 750 kilometres from Mumbai .</span></span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-14249171372509289352012-01-25T18:17:00.000-08:002012-01-25T18:19:38.625-08:00Chapter 7 - Treasure Hunt and a Hi to Padmini<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">Days were rolling by in Mumbai with work ,college. Thanks to Mumbai’s transportation , Herby was seldom used except for some short hops here and there. There was this time when Herby would max cover a distance of 150 odd kilometres over 2 months. And even those came out of trips to relatives place or the temple. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">Boring days were nearing when one Sunday morning I caught an ad in the paper . Maruti Suzuki treasure hunt.It read “ Inviting all maruti owners to take part in this treasure hunt in Mumbai’ The hunt began at 8 Am and I saw the clock , It read 8 30 .</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I screamed across to dad in the other room , pops treasure hunt and mum was just getting ready to start Sunday cooking . 30 minutes later I had succeeded in getting the three of us out onto herby filled with sandwiches and water bottles to go on the treasure hunt. The treasure hunt aim is to finish some 13 odd clues or checkpoints and involved some lucky draws for the fastest completion.</span><span style="font-size: large;">We registered ourselves and I found my dad signing some rules stating maruti not responsible for any accident which may occur etc and that speed limit will be checked between 2 checkpoints. Max permissible speed is 60kmph.I was miffed hearing that , 60kmph ,, nonsense Mumbai roads especially on eastern express highway and western express highway we could touch 80kmph.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nevertheless we headed off on our treasure hunt , a lovely Sunday morning and sun out , mum making sandwiches in the back seat and me trying to guess the treasure hunts. Couple of them very pretty easy but they were spanned so across Mumbai that it involved us going from one end to the other . It was so much fun as at every checkpoint we were given goodies like car vouchers teddy bears and water cool drinks . Herby for the first time had a number sticker ! I was so proud because till then I have only seen race cars with numbers on the side. We had caps and maps and boy was it one heck of an adventure. We could finish most of the checkpoints except one which talked about a go karting circuit. We never have been to a go karting circuit in Mumbai , and I wasn’t able to recollect the name where It was located. We stopped for fuel when asked the fuel guy , if he knows any go karting circuit . He directed us to some place on the western suburb. Reaching there we dint find nay checkpoint and that’s one I got the name . I shouted in exclamation HAKONE! in eastern suburb. And thus begin our rather fiery drive from one end of Mumbai to the other .Having reached there we realised that we were running short of time . The race finishes by 4Pm. And we were there at 3 15 PM . The last checkpoint was the Mumbai CST station, a prominent heritage site. From where we were, that was a good 20 kilometres and has to reach it in 40 minutes.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We pondered a little but if we should go home as we have to cross home and reach CST. We dint give up and raced away , with 2 minutes to spare we reached CST and we were scouting for the checkpoint , the last one for us to complete the race. I was scanning around near the station and my dad had almost pulled over to the left side of the road and Herby was just about rolling , when I shouted spotting the checkpoint on the other side of the road . Dad turned to look at where I spotted and the next instant , crash and bang! The little kid screaming away and dad too momentarily lost in it , with Herby rolling and we smashed into a Fiat or better known as Premier Padmini.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well a little scene with people coming around us and dad coming out to see the damage , well the speed in which we were caused no damage to the Fiat , a rock solid car made out of solid metal from the 1970. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Herby on the other hand had some damage , my dad did a quick check and noticed that the radiator took a little beating and touching the fan . He quickly shut the bonnet and went back to the seat ,and we looked in the direction of the checkpoint , and disaster , They were just packing up in a bike and going off .</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My dad not wanting to give up as we had come so far , did a quick turn and raced towards them already moving on their bikes. Herby with his fan was making weird noises taka taka taka whirr whirrrr whirrrrrrr with the engine running and the front grill shaking as it lost it bolts and the bonnet was only holding it . I think this is where we broke the 60 rule and went ahead catching up to the guys in the bike. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We got our last checkpoint stamped and goodie bag, and proceeded home. Herby was making the whirr noises and mum asked to cut the speed down. 40 minutes later home sweet home. Herby went to the mechanic the next day and got himself treated and back with the radiator and fan fixed,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To this day me and dad have a hearty laugh on how herby by just touching Padmini, took such an impact, we keep saying even today, we just said Hi to a Padmini and we got a trashed radiator.</span><br />
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</div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-79531440715133025082012-01-25T18:13:00.000-08:002012-01-25T18:13:22.673-08:00Chapter 6 - Winding roads and freaked out hands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">After months of squabbling with my dad that we have not been on any long road trip . We decided to take Herby out to Pune and Mahableshwar meeting relatives in Pune.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dad and Son taking inspiration of being dressed holiday style , went to the nearby clothes store and bought ourselves nice baggy half pants , kind of a trekking half shorts.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cometh the day and I was all mad, doing rain checks and helping out dad with herby .Soon we were off in Herby, clad in our shorts with mum doing the eateries duty in the backseat and occasional back street driving too. She would go often noticing the speedometer ‘Shankar – reduce speed.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">First time on the Mumbai Pune expressway and one hell of a road it is . Perhaps one of the best roads in India when we travelled, 6 lane on both sides and long and long. And that was the first time I realised what Herby could do. Little into the Pune highway post lunch, when my mum dozed off, I was chatting away noticing the Volvo buses go past us and the scenes around. I took some time off to notice the speedometer after a brief stop at a toll gate .My dad shifted gears swiftly and I was glaring at the speedometer , For some god damn reason I had the movie Speed running in my head, especially the dialogue go below 50 the bus blows ! And there was a scene where the bus jumps of a bridge at 50 miles roughly I guess around 90kms. I wondered if Herby can be in such situation and go fast. My eyes from a little peck was suddenly locked onto the Speedo , 70 , the needle gradually moving beyond the half way Speedo to 80kmph and then inching towards 90kmph . I noticed that 2 more pegs and we will be in the three figure mark. Can herby do it?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">High end cars , all zipping past and suddenly we were zipping too , 91 , 92 , 93 , 95 and in front of us are the cars much more faster , comfortable . and then the next moment the glee on my face , an old car on the right lane overtaking a brand new car and boy 100KMPH , My face light up and like a young kid way , went with a sense of achievement , haa I raced you ! The old car is still stuff and boy what a feeling!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sun was beating down on us and in front me and dad had no protection thanks to the half pants, we eventually put towels on our laps to prevent getting roasted. 3 hours later we were up on the winding roads on the hill station. While going up there was a road which said , Suicide point , I coaxed my dad into driving there and soon we were off on this narrow road twisty and turning . Reaching there was a piece of cake but on the way back , there was something in store and my dad apparently has vertigo , some kind off fear of heights of head spinning thing . The reason , well while going there he was facing the mountain side and hence did not have an idea of depth , however while going back the drivers side faces the valley below and in good depth too , he freaked out , I could sense his palms sweating. And horrible me , to me all this is adventure , here my dad is struggling to be in senses and drive and I am shouting , yayy wat a deep valley and depth , super scene .</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mum screamed , Shyam – will you shut up . I promptly did and after few minutes we were back on the main road. My dad stopped and was panting away drinking water. Of course that was the last of Herby on off beaten tracks.</span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-83114411280968006912012-01-20T20:46:00.000-08:002012-01-20T20:46:21.717-08:00Chapter 5- illegally out of the colony into the city<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">By now , my driving was a lot more better and daily rounds in colony have enabled me to perfect my driving . The result was that I could now go in all 4 gears , turn the steering and do all this listening to music on my Mp3 player. Of course no more gate banging.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">The itchy hands were now quite bored or driving around the colony to be honest and soon there was a period of time when I preferred to sit back in the passenger seat and enjoy the road, until one fine day my aunt was coming to Mumbai and by an early morning train. She was asking me direction in the taxi to reach our home. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Ummmm.. ummmmmm my brain went whizzing . Chalukya express arrival 7 30 Am at Dadar . Speaking on the phone , with herby in front of me .My brain was now doing its weird thoughts of the road etc and in the momentary thinking , probably I could feel herby too standing there and talking to me , as if to say ‘Hey Shyam , morning no traffic psst psst , listen 4<sup>th</sup> gear more than 40km. And in the next second I told my aunt , aunty no taxi , I will come and pick u up. She said oh ok. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">The following night , sleep wasn’t seen anywhere near me , the feeling of going out against all odds, dad in <st1:city w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:city>, mum in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rajkot</st1:place></st1:city> and it was only me and herby. I used to get up every 2 hours and check my watch , is it 6.30 , is it 6 30 . At last 6.30 arrived and for the first time ever like a warrior getting out into the battle field to face the opponents , I crossed the main gate of our colony to merge onto the main road . 2 minutes later I was on the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Eastern Express Highway</st1:address></st1:street> towards the City , 4 lane , no traffic . </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Need for speed music was back in head , this time in full swing , moving along flyovers and passing trucks and taxis and going at 80kmph , I was in full glee with my lips not closing , yeehawww , I am on my way to Dadar . Of course there were a lot of factors influencing my decision to go out. Primarily because the roads are very wide and not narrow , and no signals to stop as we go above in flyovers and morning traffic is less. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Soon I was on my way back picking up my aunt , a little jittery as by now the traffic on the road had increased manifold and I dare not tell my aunt that this is first time I am driving on the main roads. 30 minutes later we were home and Herby was parked back. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Its like the movies , when I gave a little pat with my hand on the bonnet and said thank you. I did it . And moved away, few days later when my dad heard this , instead of reacting , it ended up being positive with me now officially given permission no head out of colony under adult supervision, hehe ! Well actually dad in the passenger seat. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Well which now means that all the short hop journeys to the market and nearby friendsplace , I get to drive and my fathers keep saying to our relatives , ahh I now sit back , Shyam is the driver . I proudly smile and since I am more involved in Herby , I do my fair bit of cleaning Herby and ensuring that the windscreen is devoid of dust .All for another shot at driving. </span></span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-16941674640389982412012-01-10T09:38:00.000-08:002012-01-10T09:38:15.877-08:00Chapter 4 - Herby goes to workshop and Gate crashes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">By now it was a known fact that I was driving the car in the colony and doing my scratches and breakings. My dad did not seem to mind these little mishaps, much to my irritation . He is very fond of Herby , but this non angry reaction irked me. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Few days later I got my answer , the reason he was not bothered about the little dents and breakage was due to the fact that Herby was going for a full makeover and away for 2 weeks to the workshop. The workshop was not very far off just a little away from the house towards the main road. Every day on my way out to the main road I would look for Herby and how he is . The first few days he was stripped of all lighting and fitments and lying with wires dangling on the side of the road parked in slush. I couldn’t do much as there was no parking space. Soon after a week, he was stripped of his doors, the bonnet and the hatch and his paint scrubbed out .I wondered what it is to be a car being like that. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Things got even worse after a few days, when he was now not on his own feet, and was supported by stone blocks. And finally one fine day after 2 weeks of being in the workshop comes out a Milk white painted Herby, completely polished and shiny black bumpers, all dents taken out, new headlamps, tail lamps ,new indicators. Parked in his new parking spot right in front of my balcony , ahh for a few days I forgot the girls in my colony to bird watch , I would just admire Herby with his shiny shiny looks. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Now of course the human mind doesn’t keep quiet and I was yet again tempted to take him out. Wow , click goes the key on the door and when I open it , could smell the fresh smell of polish , the smell of fresh oil and new rubber mats . Seat covers. Next with great excitement I turn the ignition and vroom this silent engine wake up . Not the rattling engine I knew. I kept the engine running , opened the bonnet trying to see what is new. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">As if I am a great mechanic , I peeked into the bonnet to see everything now fresh smelling , few shiny parts which I assume are new. And an engine so silent . So much was my excitement , you could probably have transformers move opening music playing in the background with this boy awestruck at a machine. Back in the drivers seat and this time the fast paced Need for speed music comes into mind .Just like the game , a new car means more power , more power means fast and fast means covering my colony in less time. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Haha you can imagine the scene , teenage kid , a car revamped , my colony road is my race track and I am the only one ready to trash the lap record and NFS music in my head. I took the car out racing through my colony and as I was driving , I heard my name being called out , it was one of our colony uncles. I said hi and the next moment in front of me is our colony gate closed and bolted down to the road and the speed breaker just in front of it . What happens next till date I cannot seem to fathom to this day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Front of me is a 2 ton metal gate bolted down freshly painted in red and black , the momentary Hi to my uncles resulted in me losing my concentration on the road and before I could realise to stop , the car went over the Speed breaker , crash bang and ding ding ding ding the metal gate is thrown open vibrating and rattling and the car stops. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">That day I think is my first experience of the heart missing a beat . Herby just out of the workshop , my dad himself has not driven it , the shiny metal gate crashed into by this little 900 Kg car. I could already hear and feel my dad screaming and possibly hitting me . The society people complaining and the broken gate. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">I got out of the car shuddering and panicking to first check on the damage to herby. Nothing , all I see is a car whose front wheel is on the speed breaker stopped with a tilted angle ,the gate wide open . Could not believe my eyes, how is this possible ? I hit a 2 ton gate with such force it actually opened and here is a car which doesn’t seem to have even a scratch . To be honest I expected the front end to be gone with the bonnet crushed in and the headlamps knocked out. Throwing my ego aside I checked and checked and went round and round herby trying to see some damage. Alas there was none . To this date I am dumbstruck as to how there is no damage. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">After a good 30 minutes of doing round round, I gave up and went back to the driver seat to turn the ignition , ok I must admit no need for speed music . I could only imagine whacking of the belt and me in one corner of my sofa with face red horribly scolded and given a trashing of my life. Herby roared to life and I think I heard my brain speak and ask , why are you fooling me ? Arent you hurt and if yes where are you hurt ?.No answer , of course what was I expecting ? Herby to speak in English … obviously not. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">I parked Herby and next went to investigate the gate. Seemed all fine and I had more confidence that the 2 ton gate just opened and nothing else. And then on the right gate , was the bolt which was to the ground completely bent in right angle. And of course the bolt doing its fair bit digging into the road. I thought I could get away , but unfortunately the uncle had seen it all and also noticed the bolt gone. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">He came upto me and said ..you…. that bolt needs to be replaced !!! With a ferocious tone . We will send the notice to your father he bellowed. Gone ! I felt my first belt trashing on my back already. I ran home and called him up and when I narrated the events , he too was steaming and yet amazed that no damage to Herby. He did not believe it either . Later he came in the evening did the exact round round round of Herby and I was grinning , hehe ,he to couldn’t find any damage and was equally amazed . And clarified with me stating “ So you drove the car through that metal gate which was closed and nothing has happened’? . I shamefully trying to hide my laugh said errr YES. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All is well ends well , the bolt was damaged at 600 rupees , pretty small considering what could have been more if Herby was Damaged. Deal with my dad that this incident will not be told to Mum with great importance and that I will continue driving.</span></span></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-29287704944277316502012-01-10T09:22:00.000-08:002012-01-10T09:22:02.989-08:00Chapter 3 -Juggling the turning and breaking the lighting.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">After my first 4<sup>th</sup> gear shot with Herby , it was soon time to get it back to base. Of course this again is a different challenge. I have to know to park Herby in its exact location to avoid dads suspicion. Boy was it quite a task , well for starters yes I do know how to drive but still haven’t got the judgemental capabilities of its size , especially when the parking lot is narrow. Well All I had to do was drive it in straight to the end. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">I did get away for a couple of day with my antics of driving around and parking it correctly. There was one broken flower pot which was my park mark , hehehhe.<br />
I would leave it when I get out and ensure that I park it right there. Of course it does disappear some times , but yea was lucky enough to get away with dad not noticing the difference in location, ahh well just a few inches here and there.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">And then came the day , where desire dragged the dum dum for trouble. Desperately wanting to drive , I took herby out and then when I wanted to come back 2 cars parked .Uh oh … was my reaction , and since I was not confident about the judgement to pass through the 2 cars . I decided to go roundabout the other side and come , which meant that I will be coming in the opposite direction and utterly opposite to the usual way Herby would be parked. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Well having said that , I drove herby through the opposite side and reached the parking , of course not to get it back in normal direction , I had to do some juggling with the steering . I think that day if I had a 100 aircons running I would still be sweating . Forward Backward , forward backward ! forward backward , and then since my judgement was bad looking back. I would stop get out of the car see the space behind , and repeat the same. I probably looked like the biggest clut reversing a car , and then with my patience running out I did the one last turn to put it in the right direction when I heard a screeeeeeeeecchhh and the sound of crunch . Disaster , the last turn in a hurry ended up me driving herby too close to the wall on the left breaking the side indicator and making a nice straight line ripping the white paint on the right side.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Well , horrified at the scratch and the broken pieces of the indicator , I rushed back home to bring a wet cloth and here I go scrubbing scrubbing to make the line not visible . I rummaged through the shoe rack to remove the polish dad uses to polish the dashboard. I said to myself, its car polish , it should work inside and outside and took it and polished that area hoping the line would go, well after some nonsensical attempts , I was satisfied that the line is not so distinct. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">In all the hungama , I totally missed the fact that the broken indicator lamp was on the ground. Next morning my dad went near the car and called me over , I went trying to put up a decent smiling face , and he said ‘ So you have been driving around I notice ….. I replied er no appa just starting , stopping and generally. He retorted back , you don’t have to say anything , see those bits of indicator lamp on the floor and smiled , I know you have been driving around , the watchman’s been telling your driving in afternoons and fast on the turns. I put up a straight face and wished he saw his watch and released that he is getting late for office. Thankfully he did and moved to catch his 9.00 AM local train.</span></span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-73204054563450780422012-01-07T01:05:00.000-08:002012-01-07T01:05:39.345-08:00Chapter 2 - Mumbai – 16th year and my first tryst with Herby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Until we reached Mumbai from Jaipur , I was never behind the steering wheel , though me sitting in the passenger seat would notice every move of my dad driving Herby . My dad did give me Herby to drive in Jaipur at the age of 15 , I still couldn’t get my clutch and first gear right and ended up breaking the clutch plate. After which the next time I dared to sit in the steering wheel was in Mumbai. We lived in a gated community in Mumbai and I had more access to Herby than ever before. And with teenage adrenalin running in my blood and seeing kids drive cars, I too fell for the desires and wanted to drive . Alas my first big problem, the parking spot which was allocated to us was way in front and with the lane narrow the only way out to the road was to reverse all the way back. Thus began my biggest dilemma, if I needed to get my hands on Herby, unlike all others who would go forward my journey began backward.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike Jaipur I did drive the car forward in the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> gears; this was about using the reverse gear I still remember the first day of me trying to get Herby out . I go out with all my enthusiasm to get Herby driven and my first few attempts were horrible , I would put the vehicle in reverse and as soon I realise the clutch ,katak jerk dum Herby would stop. Which is completely my mistake because I am not releasing the clutch properly ,and accelerating on time. After 15 maniac attempts of endless starting and stalling in the wee hours of afternoon , the grandmother from the next door house came out and asked , son what exactly are you trying to do. I lied stating that dad wanted me to take the car out to clean. Eventually after 3 days if endless starting and stalling I did move backwards and finally onto the road .Eureka and the first joy of driving all alone in the afternoon hours in the colony, flipping the gears 1,2,3 and when your adrenalin rushes . You hear your angel remind you about dad saying 4<sup>th</sup> gear only in 40kmph, the evil mind saying go for it Shyam , hit the 4<sup>th</sup> gear . Of course to achieve this I have to drive in my colony at 40kmph and with no idea of what is herby’s braking power and whether I would actually stop. 2 PM one hot afternoon , I stopped Herby facing the longest straight section of our colony , a distance of maybe 500 metres. The feeling in me was ecstatic , until then I have always gone in speeds of 40kmph or more in Need for Speed , my much loved game on my pc and boy was I good at it, today I am at the wheel of a real car, a open road..</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">I would feel my palms sweat , but yea 1,2 , 3 and on the corss of 40 I hit the 4<sup>th</sup> only to find Herby going silent much to my amazement., well matter achieved and then uh oh ! The road turning brake brake brake , I guess that’s what I was not prepared for , simultaneous movement of brake and steering and changing gears. To much to ask for , I put the car in neutral and shut the engine and slammed the brake. Hoooorayy my first driving at 40<sup>th</sup> plus my first impression of rubber on the road. </span></span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-91958989143539892452012-01-04T05:47:00.000-08:002012-01-04T05:47:59.169-08:00Herby – A relationship for miles and miles to go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Chapter 1 </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Some time in 1997 – The train chugs into Lucknow Station after a long really long journey 29 hours from Chennai. After my window seat experiences of being a little kid watching the tracks and train go clickety clack and to add to the icing , I was going to see my father in vacation time and this time its special because we have a Car . Stepping out of the station I see this little white gleaming maruti 800 bearing the registration DL3C F 7596. Like a kid bursting with energy , I asked what’s with the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Delhi</st1:place></st1:city> registration . Soon I was in the back seat being driven back home. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Thus begins the story of a car and the journey along with it .A car which saw through our different phases of life right from the first argument between mum and dad on it being crashed into a wall , the next time being driven into a Corsa by myself and yet came trudging along every transfer of ours across states. The car now has a name and is called Herby and I will be referring to car as him because today he is probably the only non living thing which speaks with me and vice versa . Sounds mad ? , well lets put it this way , for some a car is just a medium of transportation , takes people places and put you in a different strata of society oh the so called upper middle class. To me he is a friend an other side of me none have seen or will know until today .</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">I must admit , that I too was like that recognising the car as a machine which elevated our status symbol at the age of 14.And today when I think of the things I have done with Herby over the period of years , I only wonder and say , he sure put up with me and my tantrums. Back in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lucknow</st1:place></st1:city> to the year 1997 m herby was maruti 800 bought second-hand from the company , a 1996 model 800cc engine and the perfect family car. The car that took us places, fun frolic , could take 8 people with 2 siting in the dikky with rear hatch open . Ahh well those were the days , the days when used to have dinner at 10 , run to the only Baskin Robbins in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lucknow</st1:place></st1:city> at 12 AM midnight to have ice cream. My dad was a simple man and thus Herby did’nt get any fancy stereos or Air conditioning and till date doesn’t have the air conditioning or any sort of sun film .With the family being travel junkies , herby soon too followed along with us in the travelling sprit ,Herby has been driven to Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi Jaipur, Ranthanbore, Sariska, Mumbai, Pune Mahableshwar and then what we thought was the final run to Hyderabad .</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN-AU">Hyderabad</span></st1:city></st1:place><span lang="EN-AU"> is where my love for Herby begins , where man and machine truly talked to each other and Yes I do believe that cars do talk to you and are your perfect companions.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">Reaching <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city> in 2005 from Mumbai , was my first stint with Herby over long distance when I accompanied my dad in driving it down . Of course I did start driving in Mumbai when I turned 16 .</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"> To be continued </span><br />
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<!--[endif]--></span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-9261469981592294392011-12-22T06:30:00.000-08:002011-12-22T06:30:30.218-08:00Tantrums of the office floor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Yawning away to glory at my desk and my fingers go bonkers on the keyboard this utterly slow Wednesday afternoon. It all started a little while ago when I pinged my friend out of boredom who sits in one obscure part of my floor. My office floor is so huge that one can actually cover end to end atleast a 100 metres. Well being in the confines of office ,I cant seem to think of anything else , but office means serious and serious not equal to me !</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">And thus comes out this blog. Its Christmas time and in our office most projects are shut down during the holiday period the work load is practically less. That’s whats been the inspiration to write his blog , the things people do to come to office and the things people do to be awake. To be honest , I am writing this blog to be awake , but one look around me and I can say there are atleast a bunch of people who are in the same boat as mine. The afternoon time doesn’t make it any better , normal day itself post lunch makes everyone yawn and boy is it contagious. Well firstly there are this category of typers ! Not typing work but on the chat window with friends across . And if they are in the most visible position they try their best to shrink the chat window to fit one non see able corner of the computer screen and it is indeed hilarious to note how the body is tuned for these people, If they find someone coming to them behind or they hear their names , flip flip goes the hands over the ALT –TAB ! .Pheww is their look on the faces and they realise its just their smoky buddy asking out for a smoke. Not me though cos my manager knows that my productivity is less when I don’t chat. LOL</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Women on the other hand are ingenious creations by themselves , bolted to their head are the headfones and they can talk the whole day gossiping gossiping , I wonder who invented the hands free , they yap and yap and yet seem to find the art of doing work at a pace which cannot be quantified and yet if someone important comes around within 20 metres distance of their working space ,the inbuilt safety alarm kicks in …. And you hear her boss coming …. Ok bye tata see you .. the eyes from a bubbly laugh becomes a savitri stare. The keyboard suddenly starts going at a faster rate and a minute later the manager comes talking and all is wells ! And the alarm system also goes back to the mode faster than it kicked in , barely few steps the manager has taken , the left finger goes to the right side to hit the centre button and wham ! Redial tring tring …. Hey aah yes no yeaa..with a stretch boss had come so just update , now where were we begins the conversations again.</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">And then are these category of men who find themselves perennially single and want to make some impact .They ensure that that are on the fone closest to their nearest good looking girl and keep pacing up and down up and down . Sometime the desperation is so much , that even after noticing the fact that the person is not there , they still keep pacing up and down as if the horoscope guy ordered to do tht for 10 minutes and she will be there. I really pity the person on the fone , cos he is bloody bakra who has to bear his friends blabbering all cos he is pacing up and down at his fav girls desk.</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Of course not far behind are the owls category of people ( both men and girls) , the ones who don’t want to be noticed that they are also looking for some fun in life. They keep staring into the computer screens and have the self modified bifocal eyes. Half the eye is on the subject and half the eye is on the monitor . I guess during that period of time their hands must be typing what they want to say to the girl/boy.</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Discovery channel and animal planet too have helped in the art of sighting and seeing for the blokes and blondes in office . Usually word of mouth is the key to this aspect. The friend sitting next to you says , Hey your girl/guys has come and the next instant the person neck goes up by 8 inches and turns weeeeeeeee one full 780 degress faster than the security camera above their head and plong , their heads are strutted out in the direction of the respective. The last time I noticed this behaviour was in the African animals or the deers when they sense danger pop their heads out of the grass and run! For their lives. Well here we don’t run , we create the instant coffee break and CTRL+ALT+DEL is triggered !.</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Speaking of coffee , the beverage kicks in caffeine and a lot other things , in most cases the little cup of coffee is the perfect alibi for the perfect evening office safari. Especially when coffee is in hand and the legs roam around the campus . The legs don’t roam for any fitness reason , its more for the colors which come out of the next door office at the particular time. That’s the time when you bunch of friends speaking together , where you see the ear at 45 degrees the fake smile at 90 degress while the eye is doing its 360 degrees.</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Well mathematics was never my favourite subject but when it comes to doing calculations , I don’t understand from where the brain gets its ability to calculate judge and rate the newly found girl/boy in a split second. The other day my friend was coming along in my car and I muttered , looking at girl in the distance ,she looks nice , wish I can pull up ahead to get a better view to which my friend response . nopes don’t do it . I gave this bewildeed look and asked why not ? The answer was shes married .</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">All I could do was gulp , here I was just noticing her long hair and calculating that depending on the length of the hair , if she’s from a conservative , forward looking northie ,southie family with all the bloody RAM in my head. And the girl next to me says she is married .. howww! She retorts you noticed the hair I noticed the toe ring!<br style="line-height: 13px;" /><br style="line-height: 13px;" />Now how women do it don’t ask ! of all the things , I guess that’s how they were made , to pay attention to the minute detail.</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Anymore than this , I think I will have both the fraternity coming and butchering me. 2.55 on the clock and well spent 45 minutes penning this down in office. Hehehehehehe</span></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="en-au" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Till the next one … happy viewing </span></span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-54916205578958477002011-11-06T21:09:00.000-08:002011-11-06T21:09:43.281-08:00Rotating gear sticks and handling jalebis !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Long weekend for myself and here i am back to home sweet home for a three day holiday well spent at home.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Came in here on a Saturday morning by the overnighter bus, well something I cant talk much about , having got myself the last centre seat , squashed by 2 passengers on either side , the bus journey was ridicously uncomfortable . Perhaps the only consolation was that I was going home.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Does feel great to come back home , there a lot of things which make you feel happy , for starters my dog bruce with his nudges and stares. then is the food menu which i get to decide these days . And of course the feeling of being in known territory and location.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The run up to the weeks been particularly crazy , for starters the work load is so less in the office that I come to my workstation and am hiting the refresh button my mail box and just going through the odd things. Driving down the car to office was as regular as it can get until the other day , when the most shocking thing happened . It was peak hour traffic and I was inching my way to office , lost count of how many gear changes nut i was doing the ABC of driiving every minute , finally after an exhaustive 30 minutes the traffic was good enough to shift into the third gear when i noticed the gear stick touching my leg. That was one thing which has never happened , i put the car in neutral and figured that the stick was moving quite a but from its usual swing, I reached office and as i was parking i realise that my reverse doesnt engage !.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 minutes later I decided to find my gears and went 1 , 2 ,3 ,4 and R , nope ! nothing one more try and then the whole gear stick comes in my hand and I really seemed like the guy making jalebis out of my gear stick.Well which essentially renders my car not movable considering that it doesnt have any mechanism to power the car.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3 hours later and the car was fixed by the maruti road side assistance. nice guys must say ,. And speaking of jalebis .. the friday was yet another smashing day , me and my friend were out on a mission to have pani puri and while we were driving back the clouds above looked menacing .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bangalore rains are really funny , you could walk 200 metres and you would find yur self drenched in the first 100 metres and then sunny for the remaining 100 metres , dont ask me how ? but i fell its gods way of dumping a bucket of water on yur head . hehe</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And thus this was another day of the bucket thorwing from the top , err actually a water leak i say not a bucket . It was pouring and it was quite a struggle driving in my old herby , the mirrors get fogged up and i have to constantly cleanup with a cloth in my hand . The cloth i used had some oily thing in it , i guess from my last wipe of eating something oily and soon my windscreen was all but hazy figurines and katrina's dance moves style oily foggy trails . Still i pushed onto my chat guy and asked for the pani puri , by now the rain was pretty hard and the chat guy gave both of us a stare as if to say , Pani puri in this weather ??</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well we really dint care , as long we pay for the pani puri , its his job to give us the service , and then we notice the hot hot jalebi counter being warmed up for the evening. Ahem temptations cant be stopped , hot jalebis on a cold wet day , perfect combination.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Soon the guy was rolling away his jelebis when we got restless and decided to try my hand at it , i was not better , i seemed to make vegetarian worms out of the batter while my other friend seemed good at it .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then it was time to go home ....reaching there i find myself to a long lost friend of our who had lifted me during my first birthday and seeing me now . Hmmph some relative i thought and went up to pack my stuff for the evening journey to hyderabad,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dinner at 9 and my fone rings , it was from the bus operator on which i was to go to hyderabad, he boomed over the phone in telegu , saar ekaada unaaru . I was like home ...>! Isnt the bus at 9 45 ???</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I heard the driver mumble behind saying ask that idiot to sit at home ....cant get more embarrassing , soon there was an option where i could catch the bus at another location at 10 30.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now it was a weird situation when you know the fact that you have missed the bus and you still continue to have dinner knowing that you have to catch the buss from another place.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thank heavens ,i said and i run to catch the city bus , and sitting in my bus , i realise that i left my head fones behind . Cursed myself , i thought whhy is this journey so jinxed ..</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well little adventure self created ,, sure is fun !</span><br />
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</div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-60306734787041874382011-11-01T05:45:00.000-07:002011-11-01T05:46:07.940-07:00Forgotten times and Revival of Relationships<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OykPVCVT7fY/Tq_pYy28AiI/AAAAAAAAArY/PL_2W97uqMg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OykPVCVT7fY/Tq_pYy28AiI/AAAAAAAAArY/PL_2W97uqMg/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LELNiSS8Q9E/Tq_pZsbQLcI/AAAAAAAAArg/yo4rVfLLN4M/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LELNiSS8Q9E/Tq_pZsbQLcI/AAAAAAAAArg/yo4rVfLLN4M/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXyHcyCEfSg/Tq_pbYXORTI/AAAAAAAAAro/wQ-u-TGhGwE/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXyHcyCEfSg/Tq_pbYXORTI/AAAAAAAAAro/wQ-u-TGhGwE/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5WmrzeEsuk/Tq_pcQwCbpI/AAAAAAAAArw/Pq2JRZnhX2Q/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5WmrzeEsuk/Tq_pcQwCbpI/AAAAAAAAArw/Pq2JRZnhX2Q/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Saturday morning in Bangalore city, here I am with some sense of mind to write down a blog. I proudly updated my Fb status to say that I am going to write.Hope the blog finds you all in good spriits and smiles . From my last blog 3 months back , things have dramatically changed so much that I did not find time to pen down and now with the duration being long , its pretty easy to lose track of few things.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Allright we begin by whizzing back into a time machine to myself post july . Having landed in Bangalore , I was indeed on a mission , to perform and and perform and nothing else. Of course to do this I had to put myself into my shell as i call it . Err the shell is a sort of a self change in me where i go into a framework where I shut down myself to everything around me be friends , family etc.Having moved to a new project here ,I channeled every bit of my energy to my work and am glad it did pay off. Of course its been at a cost of missing out on few meeting with friends , some strained relationships and conversations , am sure those who know me will understand and we will be back on track.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">With loads of weekend work , the daily drive in Herby (my car) from home to office and back was the only pastime i really loved. Plus with work taking out my energy and an ever changing face book , was the perfect excuse to come home dinner and crash and then head to office.The months of August just whizzed by with the usual trips to home and chennai to spend time with grandad. The months of September and October is where things began to really get interesting. September was a trip to Mumbai and October to Delhi and all of it was on mission to meet friends and nothing else.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This time around , it was a well known fact that I loved Melbourne and i would whatever it takes to go back , but not without meeting my friends. And i had this goal to meet all my friends before i head back. Trip to mumbai was perhaps the most nostalgic , once again i cannot express my love for the city , there is something about it , and thanks to my new found photography skills , i captured some good memories videos of the Ganpati visarjan and stuff and as i did , tears rolled down my eyes . I probably looked like a grown up child weeping along as i walk the familiar streets of mumbai sad to leave it behind .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the most happiest moments were meeting my classmates and then meeting my old Chinmaya mission friends . Oh well , I some times wonder why do we ever grow up and start working to be pushed around to diff corners of the world. Nevertheless that was some welcome break from my work and then was the month of October . But these 2 months september and october are the times when I was coming out of my shell and</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">getting back to some good old friends and stuff. My erstwhile melbourne gang was slowly beggining to meet up more so often , or should i say i started meeting them more often . We do have some few additions here in Bangalore with the local kannada speakin lingo colleagues , but thas ok .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Frequent meetup i guess just makes you inclined to let go of whats happened and look to the future , after all in this constantly changing world , what do you gain by not speaking to people ?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">October is the month of sorts , the month i can describe as Work hard , Travel harder ,work was just at its usual pace going on and I had taken this break to attend one of my friends wedding in Dehradoon , yep you read it right . For most it was something crazy , but I dont be too nice to go all the way just to attend weddings , cos I was there to attend the wedding and meet my old friends as well , we had stayed in dehradoon when i was in my 1st grade. Those were the time when Dehradoon could be described as the ideal town as described by the ruskin bond books , slow,peaceful and serene were to words to be associated with . I was in for a shock of my life , having been made the capital of some new state called Uttranchal , the city was teeming with pollution and crowd and was more claustrophobic than ever before.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But all the worries were the thing of the past when i met our old landlords , they were like Potha aaaya ( grandsons come ) and the feeling of hospitality and the fresh alu parathas with butter and mint chutney in the morning ahem ! Nothings gonna beat that .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Playing with kids was the order of the trip and post the wedding it was time to leave for Delhi for another pit stop to meet another set of friends .Well due to the the week being the run up to formula one , my nose was so excited that it began runing and runing and runing non stop ,hehehe ! Wat an excuse for ill health ...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And to make matters worse , I booked a ac train to delhi and the Night train found me soakin my towel in complete water blowin blowin ,,, and soon i was overheating in 100 degree temperature. By the time the train chugged into the New Delhi station , i was pretty weak with a temperature and just telling myself that I am meeting my old classmate and pushed myself to reach her place on the delhi metro. One of the few things in India where I am so proud that my taxes have been put to good use..</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well luckily i was meeting my friend who is a doc and so are her parents , so i knew i was in safe hands and swiftly i was given medication .....And by afternoon the medicine did take its effect to make me feel better which I feel was a gross assumption , we ventured out to connaught place and I was loafing around when my health deteriorated and we had to rush back home . Slumber slumber and by evening , me and friend were yapping away to glory catching up on lost time and soon our old day instincts kicked in ,, we went out to the nearest sweet shop grabbed a brownie with ie cream and allu tikki ,sneaked it back to the house and watched wake up sid.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Call it coincidence or telepathy , watching a scene we looked at each other and were like can we have the tikki ! And soon with gross disrespect to my sickness we began eating allu tikki and brownie ...Well its a matter of choice as I wont get to do this again soon . The feeling of meeting a good old friend can not be quantified in any manner , its has its own charm .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A day later I was on my flight back to Bangalore for a 8hr work and then again on the bus to Hyderabad for Diwali....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A true journey indeed , though hectic , took me back into old times and memories worth living and of course penning down.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well that sums up this blog , with a honest intent to get the next one pretty soon ....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Till then</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Peace</span><br />
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</div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-23501822696985800632011-07-22T21:00:00.000-07:002011-07-22T21:01:35.229-07:00The true colours of life ......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yet another Saturday morning and after my morning cuppa filter coffee , comes the much needed enthusiasm to write my blog. It is also more so as one of my ardent readers complained that I need to write one blog as its been a long time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So where do i start from ...... so many things to type down. Okay for starters I am back in India after a good year and three months from Melbourne. One of the trips where I can with all due respect can tell myself that I heralded myself from a pampered brat to a little responsible fellow.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The last few weeks in Melbourne were just packed with work , but that did not stop me from not being my adventurous self.I continued my passion for driving and photography till the last moment for boarding the flight.Most significant was my truly maverick 1160 kms drive from Geelong to Sydney all by myself to meet my dads old pal. One of the best drives I have ever taken for a long time all by myself .I used to do a lot of solo drives in Hyderabad and i guess i was just preparing myself for the same .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well Melbourne is now past but memories and colors will remain etched for some time .Perhaps the most intriguing aspect during my last few days of stay in Melbourne was how colours change. Well I am not talking about colors of weather or nature , they are such wonderful things in which you cannot find mistakes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The colours I am talking about is the change in people , the way people change in one swift move and yet again it is me to blame. For some reason in Melbourne , i decided to override my own golden rule of taking time to know people.And now i face myself with this situation where i say to myself , shyam you became the tissue paper yet again. The very people with whom I was in Mel soon proved they were born in the world of this ruthless world of competition and the fact that all is fair in it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of course its a ruthless world , but when you play the tricks with the person whom you lived day in day out and you stomp him and go up , sure someone has to be hurt . It was indeed weird to be in that spot , just goes to say , i still have to learn to stop letting people figure me. I could even fathom these things , but one thing stands out a lot , where in some of my so called close friends in Melbourne return to Bangalore and then after that , it seems like they have just had a partial amnesia. Ouch ! Not a single form of communication for all the proximity we had in Melbourne. Of course India is different , but that doesn't mean that other forms of communication is not there.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But one thing i am truly happy about is a handful few who have just been the same no matter what the location is , and perhaps they are here to stay .But again there is this constant rebellion in the brain against itself to say .. don't do the mistake again. History may not repeat itself , but i don't forget my past either .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And that quite sums up my blog title -- the true colours of life ....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Until my next one ... hopefully pretty soon</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">peace to all</span><br />
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</div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-54473362737641832292011-05-27T17:33:00.000-07:002011-05-27T17:39:15.529-07:00Why managers dont know management<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It’s an early morning on Saturday and I was reading my dad’s note on his plan to retire soon. Recently there was a note which I had written about employee employer relationship which was a highly debatable topic. So much was the interest in the topic that most of friend atleast hit the thumbs up button. And today when I sit back and do a little introspection, I stumble upon a little fact which is a big hindrance to my aims or growth. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It all started a few days back when I being the greatest idiot as in the senior most duffer in my team was left behind in the race to be the point of contact by my team lead. Instead my team mate who was 6 months new but apparently 3 years older to me was made the deputy in my leads absence. At that moment I was probably letting more steam from my head than a steam engines boiler. I was pretty disappointed at that and to add fuel to the fire, this teammate of mine was throwing his weight around being bossy and comes and asks ' so what are you doing shyam’. Did I deserve this? Certainly not and then he talks about me being non compliant and I was left fuming. But soon I kind of settled in to my normal self. As I was doing my usual job, I noticed this teammate of mine running helter skelter trying to solve issues. I pitied him because he really had no clue whats going on. He was learning it the hard way. But that’s where my head began thinking. WHY was he made the deputy and not me? The answer is somewhat very clear and known to me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It’s in the style of work; I am a humorous, fun going that enjoys work and doing it with passion. It’s this attitude of mine which is now a big hindrance to my growth. Why?? Because we Indians are so used to having authoritativeness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">From what I can assume and is purely my opinion ,I often get a feedback stating shyam grow up be mature.I would say it’s not about growing up or being mature , hell with you guys if you talk about maturity for a kid would not write notes like these.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It’s how we Indian managers are groomed, we are so used to having the ' I am the boss attitude ' and get things done in a 'Do it ' manner and I just hate that. Having an authoritative attitude and being bossy is not the only way of management. I am sorry but half the technical guys who have done engineering will never understand this and they are just work horses who will go in one direction because their eyes are tied. When I leant management from my Graduate studies there are different styles such as the Democratic style, Lassie Faire style and the bossy style. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I prefer the Lassie Faire style for a reason that mostly my peers are often older to me and I cannot be a boss to them to lead teams. My role would be to get the best out of them and respect them for what they are capable of. And nowhere is it written that managers have to be bossy and you know order things and act like one. They call me immature for the simple reason that I don’t follow their style of management of being the boss. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I just can’t help thinking ... The aim in organisations is to get the job done and most managers job is that whether by himself or from the team. So it really shouldn’t matter what style of management is used because what really should matter is whether the job has been done. But now time and again I have noticed , we Indians leads and managers only consider work as done only when it has been ordered , bullied thrown to team members. And it is this style which has been followed on across managers to teams who then become managers so yes eventually even the bloody team member becomes the horse. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And when I do it the other way, and still get things done, it’s termed not mature to be managerial. I may laugh play around, have fun but at the end of day I can get my things done. And it need not necessarily be achieved through being authoritative.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But this style is so inate in us, the other day my senior manager comes to me and says be like him. I hate being like him because I am not him. I am shyam for god sake!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One more of my thoughts which is highly debatable. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So does free style of management still have a value in Indian manager’s books and organisations? Looking forward to hearing from you guys and oh yes my dad too.</span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-85205023044766658892011-02-07T03:08:00.000-08:002011-02-07T03:18:19.343-08:00Morning Rush and Gold Blush<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TU_Uw2I_zpI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vfFD9LNRFr8/s1600/DSCF2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TU_Uw2I_zpI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vfFD9LNRFr8/s320/DSCF2631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TU_ULSsUetI/AAAAAAAAAbI/jR6VP00rt3o/s1600/DSCF2552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TU_ULSsUetI/AAAAAAAAAbI/jR6VP00rt3o/s320/DSCF2552.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kindly take all reasonable steps to purchase your tickets was the sign board on the train as i grabbed a seat along with my friend for a Sunday morning adventure. I wondered what they meant by that line , cos I had taken the escalator and did not climb any steps. Lol ! Myself and Ramesh , one more friend of mine decided to go to Ballarat , a little town on the outskirts of Melbourne on a bone chilling day at 13 degrees. I was excited at the prospect of a train journey as this will ensure me ticking off travelling by all means of transport on land ,sea and air. I always used to look at these funky looking aerodynamic trains called the Vline , as i walk across the southern cross station. Today I was on one of these so called high speed trains in Australia. First impressions were nice with me checking the foam , the interiors and legroom of the seats. I looked at the coach and see just a few people seating scattered all across the coach. I wondered to the colossal waste of infrastructure , 50 people and a 300 seater train. Well what do i care , i said to myself and gazed at the window seat as the train made It way out of the station and then was this irritating sound which goes like rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr the humming sound of the engine . To my utter dismay the vibrations of the engine could be felt all over the coach, so much for advanced technological coaches, trains back in India never have these things and its just the sheer pleasure of hearing the clickety clack , clickety clack of the tracks as the train rumbles along. And then are these windows shielding you from the elements outside. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hated the eerie feeling sitting in the train , I just love train journeys for the fact that I can gaze at the window seat with diesel soot smelling air or the whiff of the brakes on my face across the country side. Nothing beats the sleeper class coaches of India. 2 hours later as we reached Ballarat , we were ushered in straight onto a waiting bus where the bus driver was giving us instructions when he said that he would pick us back by 3 30 . There was this Chinese girl who said in a thick accent , bus leaving at 4 30. The driver said no , its 3 30 and after which i lost count of the time he had to reiterate stating its 3 30 , on my last count he said at least 17 times.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10 minutes later and we enter Sovereign Hill , home of the Gold rush , this is the place of the 19th century gold rush in Australia where large gold deposits were found. The place was really nice with the feeling of one being transported into a time machine back to the past. The setup and people in the periodic costumes made it so realistic and me and ramesh enjoyed every bit of it. And the ride was ended with a very nostalgic horse drawn carriage ride. By 3 o clock we were done and we were walking the streets of Ballarat scouting for food . And food was there indeed at 5 bucks , to our amazement regular pizza and drink at 5 dollars. We wondered if 3 pm still meant lunch cos the offer said so , we hungry souls went in and asked , err is that 5 thing still valid ? to which the lady replied yes it is , job done and as we waited for the pizza , one of the guys in the shop removed the 5 thing and out revealed another offer. Me and Ramesh gave each other the pheww look. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pizza on the backpack and off we went on the beaten track to the bus ready to drop us off at the station. The train back to Melbourne was at 4 10 , so we settled down one the station benches to have the luncheon. Ramesh and myself were chomping away and suddenly from nowhere the pizza box from his lap went flying in the air did a flip over and landed smack on the floor . It was quite a scene , we both had pizzas in our mouth and we just were gazing at each other eyes rolling side to side with the oh shit expression !. Luckily the pizza was inside the box and escaped contamination. Back again on the train and this time after the half box pizza in the tummy , we escaped the humming sound of the train by putting on the headfones. The last i remember was some regional number playing in my ear and i had gone zzzzzzzz. I woke with a startled look when i heard the voice 'Tickets please'. Some power nap it was for 45 minutes , both me and Ramesh woke up just what a place to get up . We opened our eyes when the train was at a station called Sunshine. Home sweet homies in 30 minutes and crashed to my lower berth couch in my room. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Until next time ....</span><br />
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</div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-54863823414159786972011-02-05T05:00:00.000-08:002011-02-07T00:30:51.166-08:00Of Criticisms and Inspirations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I certainly did not expect to come back so soon with another blog in such short span of time.Welcome back again to my blog . Hmm its the weekend as i pen this down . Apologies for the frequent downtime on my previous blog post , it had to be tweaked and tweaked .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well the days preceding the weekend was just as usual , I had to change places to be in more proximity to my team , there was nothing new as such cos the new place where i was going to was pretty routine for me , as i used to sit there in my weekend working. My manager came across and with a beaming smile said 'Shyam , you have to shift , i thought maybe the smile was a nice one and smiled back and guffawed oh no i am not shifting . She gave back with a smile saying 'Oh yes you are with a wave of energy to which i refused again , until the writing was clear and the tone a lot more crisp like a Shyam ! . Uh oh now thats not a person speaking , thats my manager ordering , i said to myself and politely obliged.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I thought the shifting was a big ordeal , pheww the moving of the monitors and stuff and cleaning up of my new table. Imagine , it was me ! saying my place needs cleaning , one of my teammates passed me a few wet wipes to clean. As i was cleaning the table , i noticed the whiff of lavender kinda babyish lavender , and i asked hmm nice smell to which my team mate said oh you like it , its baby wet wipes !.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hours skipped by and soon it was the evening of the friday and boy was weekend already in .The weather dint seem it was gonna hold up ,darky clouds loomed across the streets as I walked along the CBD and generally window shopping some dvds . I grabbed 2 of em which were on sale and went home. Quick cofee and i grabbed my couch to finish my 2 states to where i left it. 3 hours later i was done with it and then i started watching transformers 2 and finally hit the sack at 2 am . Beep beep goes my microwave as the clock struck 11 . And from then I had only 2 angles to my body , either it was 90 up on the laptop or 180 on the couch . And if my mum reads this she will probably freak out and by now uttering oh my god , shyam please change thing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But hey I finally moved from 180 to a sudden burst if energy to clean up my house and shower to be a lot more presentable . Evening was raining again and then back to the non rental house. Those who don't know what is the non rental house , go back 2 blogs to figure out.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And Shriya gave me the gossip of my blog , apparently my previous blog had created some masala to be spread across, obviously the masala creator would have been the masala recipient , which is why newton 3rd law has happened and of course news goes faster with girls than the channel 7 or ndtv. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And now I was thinking , wats next , i really dint feel happy to tweak my blogs and of course it was a kind of criticism and i decided to put my criticism to really more inspirational blog writing . And with that fire in me , i began writing this blog and I am actually done.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Seeya all in my next one </span></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-32767322042757406092011-02-04T03:50:00.000-08:002011-02-05T01:42:27.096-08:00Whining day and getting to know ananya !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Statutory Disclaimer<br />
The characters and incidents portrayed and the names herein are not fictitious and any similarity to the name, character and history of any person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and unintentional. So you have 3 choices , either close this window or learn to write blogs or develop a sense of humour to appreciate them.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Whrrrrrrrr goes my table fan about a foot away from me as it tries to cool my ever so hot laptop. These days my laptop goes berserk , the so called notebook of mine becomes a hotbook on constantly being on facebook.<br />
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The morning was the laziest of all, I got up at 7 30 and made some coffee for myself and then scoured around my ramshackle room to see wats there ... and yea the clothes bag was full. As I just lazily sipped my coffee ,I opened my office laptop , I don’t know why I bought it the day before , I guess some intention of working , does it ever happen ? No way and here I was logging in to my office laptop in nothing but my shorts, ahh the feeling of doing hard work in nothing but Bermudas! I had some work to be done at home so took a half day work from home.<br />
Normally work from home would mean logged in loafing out , well as always I was in working this time around as well listening to my favourite numbers from old Hindi songs.<br />
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I hit a problem when running a few things at work and immediately moved onto my communicator to catch hold of a team to help me out, we called them the NV team and by far the most hated team by me .Not that they were a pack of bad humans, but yea they were this highly intelligent set of people who thought mistakes is never in their dictionary and that they are always right. I tend to disagree with that concept because humans do make mistakes and if there is anyone who s probability of making mistakes is less ,its gotta be those lifeless things that make card board boxes or fancy cars called robots.<br />
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I was breaking my head to get things sorted out, and sent a mail to some gizmo geek who is known to solve these issues, when my manager's mail came scathing to my mail box fuming away that I had not used the right channel. I was grumbling to glory on reading it and promptly pinged an apology on the office messenger. Soon the issue got sorted out and I was just working away to glory and came across these odd jobs, afternoon time and after a quick shower made my way to the office.<br />
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Post lunch was the usual with some training and bouncing towards the fag end of the day, went out for a little stroll and came back. I had forgotten some little piece of work and went back to my desk to wake my computer again. Not the usual me to be so dedicated , heheh I had my reasons , one little peek over my cubicle and I could see my boss still there , so yea golden rule , don’t leave before the boss, was to be maintained. Lol. Evening ish and I make my way towards the exit and when I saw Shriya running the other side, Shriya is my office colleague, but we are more best friends than office colleagues. One of my other friends Anu was leaving the next day and as I walked passed her, I quickly yapped that I am going to anu's place and will meet up soon in 30mins.<br />
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They say never give a girl a time cos they aren’t good at it either, but yea blunder was made. I was just coming out of Anu's place to leave home, when Shriya buzzed and asked on my whereabouts and I promptly replied just starting from anu's place. She was like saying bye huh! , I sheepishly said a half baked ya!<br />
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Not that I dint want to say the truth , but I could sense that she was pretty miffed at me not coming in my said 30 mins and its gonna be more and ever since Poorthi gave me the tagline, the 'there for all ' guy which I have been vehemently denying that I am not , things weren’t to good .<br />
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Soon the miffedness of Shriya was to be felt, when I reached her place a good 90 mins later, much to my disappointment of seeing empty nandos chips and sauce. The only thing left was butter buns. Made my way to grab one but in less than a minute all were in my tummy. Prasad was there as well , and yep I had to be the topic of yet another scathing and slow digging , which I don’t quite mind, until the girl shot her one liner like this smart weapon , so wats all your girl friends saying , mr there for all .<br />
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I kept mum and dint say a word, I certainly was not too happy too hear that, but I didn’t want to defend either cos I know my defending will be little messy. I was telling myself , probably yea , next time she says there for all , I should just go up about my routine and not tell where and what I am doing cos then she is no person special that I tell her . Do I say it, no! and it irks me even more when those 2 gang up and pull my leg harder , Perhaps it is more so cos Prasad ends up meeting all the other girls and sometimes more frequently and he doesn’t get pulled or rather I don’t really bother to be so stoopish to pull his leg . All these were just in my head and still I hadn’t uttered a word. 15 mins later when Prasad left home, I was left behind reading the odd books and struggling with a very irritating back pain.<br />
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I grabbed the laptop to see any fb messages , none were there and that was when I grabbed the 2 states book , that book interested me for a long time , my mum had it and it was written by chetan bhagat as well .<br />
I started reading a few pages when I was getting to know ananya in detail. Relax guys! Ananya is chetan's gf in the book and as he kept describing his meetings with ananya, so am I also on the same path.<br />
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The book was certainly pretty humorous and as I read the pages, I realised that I loved chetan's book for his simplicity in writing wherein you can relate your self from a common man perspective especially if you are in the same age group. When I started my blogs I used to write like those until somewhere I became a jerk and wrote stuff too mundane and not having that masala touch.<br />
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My mind went tizzy and happy too as if I found some lost part of it , soon dinner was ready and me and Shriya were hogging away to glory with the distant drums of the Chinese new year going clang bang , the muted TV and the laptop showing noting hill , a Julia Roberts movie . I very vaguely remember seeing the movie before, but yea no worries with the 2nd watch.<br />
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So dinner was done and as noting hill was going on, I noticed that I missed my tram; I was offered so stay until the next 10 mins when the next tram arrives. By now I had decided to express my displeasure with the statement she made, but maybe I was inspired to do something crazy to just convey my thought and yet now take it so serious.<br />
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Thinking this , I missed my 2nd tram as well , but nah I was sensible to get out and on my out , I yelled to Shriya as I was slamming the door , ' I am not meeting any girl friends tomorrow '. She went inside the room and I was like gosh you dint hear it!!! Nah 2 seconds later she rewinded back to the place where she has to enter the room and asked WHAT! So you had some other plans? To which I shot back, Na! I am not the there for all kind of guy. I think I made my point there and was continuing to read 2 states on my way back home.<br />
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Big thanks to the book, cos thats the one which inspired me to write this blog and finding my bearing in my blog world of English language.<br />
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Till the next one<br />
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Seeya all, peace and love</span></span></span></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-39899528786837325472011-01-25T02:41:00.000-08:002011-01-25T03:52:13.786-08:002010 The year that was....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy new year guys to all of you . 2011 indeed is here before you wink your eye , here I am in the middle of the Australian summer putting my writing to good use . 2010 ....wat a year its been , a fantastic year overall with full of masalas , emotions , amazing friendships,achievements.From my transition in career working in a ITES sector to the IT sector being a non techie background. It was a risk well taken knowing what will be thrown at me , hehe the path was pretty messy at first but then the success was sure worth all the trouble. Oh yea that transition also took me from Hyderabad in south India to Melbourne in Australia .</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Since April 2010 , I have been here done that , the first few months it was just me and phani and boy , were we bored to death pingin each other . That was soon a thing of the past , by June the both of us were in our respective leagues of our own ,and then began our adventures on going out on trips. So the first was with steam engine thing and then from snow did things change .The trip to Mt Baw Mt Baw started it all ,and from then on its been a journey of amazing friendships and roadtrips.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By the time i pen this down , my nonsensical calculation tells me that I have driven around 2000 odd kilometres and across all vehicle categories from small cars to jumbovans. I have just loved driving in the country side , but not the freeways , where you sit like a zombie with the cruise control at 100 and the road goes on and on and on until you your car rumbles when this behemoth 22 wheeler dual trailers comes screaming down your back at a 100 kms rattling the bones outa you.So my trip dairies include most of victoria in all directions from the grampians to the peninsula region and some overly hyped up islands with the miniature penguins .</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then times have been really good with the usual gate crashing into peoples home and my second non rent paying home being 155 Bourke street . we had something to talk about almost everyday. yea sometimes it was boring office stuff .So the days just rumbled on with the work load just on the border line of acceptance and just going on .By now the passport loss has been nullified with new passports and a new mp3 player as well ,so that takes care of my music affinity . And come the new camera i have taken a great interest for photography and i think i am taking my fathers traits . And the best part my friends are happy too , i take their pics and their respective boyfriends find them a lot more beautiful and drool extra , so yea win win situation . Sometimes i sheepishly say hey your boyfriend said yur looking great and give the fotographer the treat , so yea fulfill it hehehe . Shameless me . </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And the last months of the year 2010 just whizzed way with some flopped roadtrips and my birthday in style on december 3rd when i seem a lot older at 24 but still younger around my friends here in melbourne. The trip to tasmania sure was nice and adventurous , with me jumpin around in the high seas with my belt coming off and meeting some seals and stuff. and then freaking out with friends at friendly beach . After that I was busy cos the greatest moment for a son ever getting parents to aussie land. Mum and dad were here and I was more than happy to drive em around , Some long standing wishes were fulfilled , like the MCG for dad . australian open grand slam for mum. And sure i have souvenirs for all of them. And the trip to sydney made me see the one side of dad i have neevr seen with his friend shose friendship lasts longer than my age. Sydney was just amazing to see from a different country perspective. Some day I would wish to settle down there the Aussie Mumbai as i would call it . So much liek aamchi mumbai ehhe guesss its ammachi sydney. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">New years eve was with me sending away dad on his return journey and then coming to my non rent home for a get together with my entire gang. And then 3 2 1 and we wished 2011 a great welcome, wats in store , i have no idea , but i did really start it brimming with confidence and I will continue to take it further. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">With this I am screeching the blog to a halt and user in my first blog of the year 2011. Bye 2010 you have sure been a wild ride , seeya all peace and Ta !</span></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-43690052632170820672010-11-18T17:36:00.000-08:002010-11-25T04:43:20.119-08:00Saucy September to Naughty November continuing to Din chak december<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TOYjDGTVfQI/AAAAAAAAAY4/g16u1TuY63k/s1600/DSC03332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TOYjDGTVfQI/AAAAAAAAAY4/g16u1TuY63k/s320/DSC03332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TOYiO9R15hI/AAAAAAAAAY0/FV-RMw6gRRI/s1600/DSCN1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TOYiO9R15hI/AAAAAAAAAY0/FV-RMw6gRRI/s320/DSCN1163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally I begin my blog content, was so crazily thinking for ages for the blog title and today the enthusiasm took over from the laziness to move. Hmm so how have you guys been?? Months flew by and of of course everyone must be lost in the routine activities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So where do I start , I dunno , three months have rolled on like nobody business with me as ever doing all the crazy things in life plus the endless goof ups mishaps golmaals . Ah well if these weren’t there I wouldn’t be Shyam!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Life goes on day by day in Melbourne with the initial hiccups all gone in the distant past and it’s reaching a stage where in I am inching closer to call Melbourne home. Am I too early to call it home! Well here is the deal, to me home is the place where I have a set of people to move around, talk around and share thoughts. And that has happened in Melbourne much earlier than I usually would. Am I so proud to say and if I could probably express joy in writing I would show a the most cheerful me in here , I have a set of friends in Melbourne !!! For those who know me, that am it, I don’t need anything else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Springing out of nowhere just like my Hsbc gang are 4 of us from different corners but with the same wavelength and in short time we have become quite close knit and possessive of it. Welcome to the fiver gang of Phani (tom n jerry relationship , but yep ) , Prabha (the so called boli baali girl from the mystical mysore) ,Shweta ( homeliness at its best ,all our cameras love clicking her cos shes just to...eeeeeeeeeeeee ) , Sonali ( saggitarian at horoscope , MS application on the mindoscope ,and US on her heartoscope) and yea of course me (the guy who just eats food wherever cooked at whichever date from the previous four described ).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to one Mt Baw Baw trip and the toonpur from Kanpur the fiver of us met up and since then it doesn't really matter whether I am in the dumps or feeling low, cos I have someone to pep me up and I can spend time with. Well the biggest achievement is that I don’t have work issues anymore , I am so out of it and work place is now so so much better off , wanted it always like that ,so work is no more hated , love it and is quite nice chugging along in its own right. So where is my personal life heading, its being perfectly human, heheheheh. By the almighty grace I am living my dream here, friends, work is good cant ask for anything more. Of course I was reminded at frequent intervals that I still have a lot to learn and be responsible, which brings me to the Great Australian Adventure of Loses. Probably I would never forget the day in my life, it was on the 9th of October when I see my bag stolen by a construction worker in front of my eyes and I can’t do much. There would be a thousand fitness first gym bags around Melbourne and I can’t go stopping people asking to check if its mine. The day was to be the first ever road trip in Australia with the fiver gang to the Mornington Peninsula. It did not pinch me at that moment, but the days leading from then was horrific, miserable and far too worse to be described here. Those days were like as if the world came crashing down, I was like as if I someone has robbed me of my skin and left me to face the dangerous world. Three things I cherish in my life went with the bag. Music, Photos and my passport. Yes you read it right, my passport .Then on began a journey of running to the consulate, endless phone calls, sobbing alone in my room, praying that my passport at least be returned. It really was a big blow to me ....I know how I was feeling and trust me, you would not want to be in that situation!! Well this is now a thing of the past, with my new passport being applied for which will come in January thanks to Indian Bureaucracy, so which means effectively I am like Ramji Londonwale or Nala Damayanti. Stuck in a foreign ctry with no identity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Come mid October that was all brushed aside with great difficulty and perhaps this is where my need for friends is most elaborated , I am sure if the fiver weren't there , I would be down like devdas here . But nah nah , I din let negative take the better of me , soon by October end we were onto another game , the game of playing cat mouse with the weather and some of the squeaky things we have done . he he nothing adult there, keep reading and you would figure out where squeaky comes from.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The month of October was pretty hectic with so many weekends worked and with every weekend being marred with rain, we were being driven to a point where the mind needed to get out of the Melbourne CBD of which we got so irritated off. Honestly the CBD comprises of 6 streets and there was no place not seen and invariably every street you go, you would bump into someone from office much to your dismay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So we the fiver of us planned a road trip, on a weekend on which the forecast was very clear, Thunderstorms. Till the last day we were biting our nails, with every known fraternity around us saying you must be crazy to go in this weather. And for me I was really being adamant, I had decided to put my foot down whatever people talk and go ahead with the trip. I must say it was quite a cat mouse decision, the drive was just amazing, while starting off I made a secret detour to go to the temple which I did and prayed that things go well generally and that this trip is also good. The four didn’t mind it at all, all the more appreciative that we stopped. And then we began the journey to Wilson Promontory this was a national park at the coastline with some breathtaking scenery , the distance was 200 kms one way and with my secret temple stop taking a chunk of my planned journey time , it was a race against time to reach wilson . I call it a race cos I knew it was to rain heavily towards the later part of the evening which the remaining four will now know when they read this blog. Wink!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was the driver for the trip, and considering I had a passion for driving and travelling, the roads were embedded in my head .My plan was to reach the wilson park at 12 starting 9 from Melbourne, 11 on my watch and I was barely half way until I take the dedicated road to Wilson’s, The last section of the road to Wilson’s as it is known is a dedicated road, i.e. it doesn’t have any turns to anywhere else and heads only to the national park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I entered the road and was a happy guy because I could make for lost time by pushing here; having a Ford Falcon V6 4.0 litre under the hood with a torque of 270kW at 5250rpm and 533Nm at 2000-4750rpm under my hood was quite an experience. Not a soul on the road, guess most people did not even consider knowing the weather, we were the only car, I hit it and the V6 sprang to life, that last section I was constantly at the 3 digit Speedo. I always use to think that I could talk to cars I drive and I guess this car did speak to me. The road was so scenic winding up and down across various contours of the Australian landscape .Destination reached and we hurriedly caught the shuttle bus to the Mt Oberon hike , it was lucky that we took our bag of snacks and lunch with us though it was heavy , we would know the value of it when we reached the top . The hike up seemed like ages and with me and Prabha stopping to catch a breath every 500 metres while the others were lost in their gossips ,gupshups and treaded along. One and a half hours later at the top. WOW 360 degree view of the pristine blue ocean, solitude beaches and miles of land to see. It was quite a sight and on that occasion we opened our lunch box filled with lemon rice affectionately named chitraaana by the toonpur from Kanpur. I was missing my camera a lot , I did not have one as I had lost it , considering my love for photography , but I did take a few shots with phani’s camera . Job done and we hiked back to base. The never ending road was to finally end when the clouds finally gave way at 3 Pm, we ran the last few hundred metres to the only shelter a little stand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Exhausted and tired and in pouring rain, we thought what’s next …..and withs next on my mind too I end part one of the blog here . hahaha so I still haven’t mentioned what squeaky is …….Promise part 2 will reveal the Secret of Squeaky .</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seeya all ,</span>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-22307285855650642772010-09-13T04:42:00.000-07:002010-09-22T08:39:30.447-07:00CBD to Strike , Sydney to Snow and the rest TBT( to be thought)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TJogwn68DeI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/TCUiv_Et-pQ/s1600/DSCN0322.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TJogwn68DeI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/TCUiv_Et-pQ/s320/DSCN0322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519760313017961954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TJogwFViWCI/AAAAAAAAAVI/hTZSepAdRq0/s1600/DSCN0328.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TJogwFViWCI/AAAAAAAAAVI/hTZSepAdRq0/s320/DSCN0328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519760303734282274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TJofosycz0I/AAAAAAAAAVA/_cz5zZgmqBQ/s1600/DSCN0607.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TJofosycz0I/AAAAAAAAAVA/_cz5zZgmqBQ/s400/DSCN0607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519759077373955906" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TJofosycz0I/AAAAAAAAAVA/_cz5zZgmqBQ/s1600/DSCN0607.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Screeechhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh</span> and beep beep , welcome back guys , so hows your day life been hope its all cruising along well if its not go read the blog before this to get it to cruising mode.</span></a><div><div><br /></div><br /><div>23:49 on the clock as i begin compiling this blog listening to a selection of songs ranging from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">celine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dion</span> to evanescence and the UK top 40 . Well so yes as mentioned in my earlier blog this blog is gonna be super fun and lot more expressive ! So by now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">everyone</span> agrees there are good times ahead of shitty times . For starters i have a new house to stay in , and the advantages of being lonely is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pretty</span> good . </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Well so what have I been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">up to</span> , well its now the days of the I me myself in full swing , the wacky funny immature goofy me ! Loving my work as i always do , gets stressful and strenuous but hey never will its not something to complain . The human brain too is sometimes funny , when i struggled it said give work and now when there is work it says <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">woaa</span> i am tired , Well in my previous blog there are a lot of things i missed . I finally am into a lot of stuff keeping myself busy going to the gym ,visiting places and stuff . Sydney was fun , reminded me a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mumbai</span> and yes i will make a trip back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">sydney</span> again . And I have a whole list of people to eat heads , most of them at office , all of em are pretty good people and nice too ! </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>And then weekdays are usually on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">facebook</span> , the gym and some music all the time , weekends are a variety of things from washing clothes to veggies to window shopping and what not . One of the weekends i did make a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">beee</span> line to the snow and boy was super fun . By now things are smooth sailing at all ends and i am sure making the best of it while it lasts , the frequent walks and meeting of office colleagues for get together is amazing . Its always me at my best when i have a set of people to talk to and hang around . </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>And so work place chugs along knocking the days and miles of expertise and gaining new stuff and before i even realize it already coming to the end of the year . I am missing home at times especially my dog Bruce , i speak to him on the phone every day and boy and i just cant help myself saying buddy , am coming back . <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">hmmmm</span> am getting bored actually to put down stuff , oh yes just remembered how can i forget about food . Food is the most essential thing here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">australia</span> and i make the best of it by going for long days without making an effort to cook , I survive on salads subway and the occasional chips fries and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">coffees</span> ,i seem to have more energy here to get along for hours until i ask myself for the next food. </div><br /><div> </div><div>By the time i write this sentence its been three days since i began this blog , suddenly been doing a lot of activities like downloading old pop albums watching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">tamil</span> movies every night . Last night was a amazing learning , was running between the kitchen and laptop to make <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">rasam</span> and to read <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Wat's</span> written , i took the hot pan of the stove and out it in the floor . Little did i realizes that the floor has a carpet and when i tried lifting , ouch i hear the crackle and heave and then disaster , I have this big burnt spot the size of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">chapathi</span> in the middle of the room . Lord heavens ! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">wat</span> did i do . I was pondering the whole night , do i get it fixed myself before the agent knows or the house owner knows . I have in my past been quite nice in fibbing around and managing things . But there was point of time when i gradually grew out of it and now i don see any joy in lying , that does mean i <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">dont</span> do it , i still hide certain info <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">hehe</span> . <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Lol</span> which .....................I guess all of us do , so i leave it here . </div><div><br /></div><div>The news for the carpet repair wasn't any better 145 for making a patch and 600 for changing the carpet . I was in this utter state if kicking myself , i would have probably asked someone to do it to me . And in the middle of all these things , i leave office yesterday er i think its better i put the date , 23rd September and I was still trying to fix my carpet , I went to the local super market to buy a carpet cleaning liquid and a scrubber , just to try if it works . I did get and when i go to the cashier , i notice that my debit card is at home , I had taken it out the other day for some shopping and dint put it back in the purse . <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Sheeesh</span> never been so embarrassed , with a dumb ass face I make the steady trot back home only to find my house keys missing . I was cursing myself , <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">grr</span> i left it at office , so which means I cant get my carpet cleaning liquid now as the debit card is inside my house . And thus begins Mr bean ( i.e myself ) ride back to office and i was going up the lift when i hear this familiar jingling sound in my shirt pocket . Turns out i did have the house keys with me . By now all i could see in front of me was this tom and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">jerry</span> cartoon when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">jerry</span> gets the better of tom and they make tom's face looks like jackass . i was no better than that! </div><div><br /></div><div>Coming back home and after a good nights sleep began next day usual office and walk back home when the great mind set to work about the carpet again ,and then i notice this little note pasted in one cranny of my bldg that my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">buildings</span> will go through some changes including painting and as i was just uninterestedly reading it , i had no job to do , i noticed this sentence new carpets to be installed . That made me really jump in joy , why cos the carpet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">used i</span>n the corridor is the same as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">whats</span> in my house . Ahem ahem ! so i might get away with little damage after all . Smart thinking i say .....</div><div><br /></div><div>This weeks will one day short as i have taken a leave for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">friday</span> and hope fully do some cleaning of the house and a visit to the temple . It been a long time . Also I did catch up with a lot of my friends back home on chats and boy it was a laugh riot at that . </div><div><br /></div><div>Well .....I am yawning away to glory by by now and time to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">zzzzzz</span> . Off I go to sleep and by no means is this the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">zzz</span> to the blog . That will also be updated soon as i go along the good days .</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Seeya</span> all</div><div></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-37478329832367391092010-09-07T03:30:00.000-07:002011-04-04T04:49:43.412-07:00From Chennai with love to Hell Down Under ......self made self inflicted ..no masalas and added preservatives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TIYtN4XNJ4I/AAAAAAAAAUs/uU80b8lDATI/s1600/Photo-0047.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514144510253016962" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/TIYtN4XNJ4I/AAAAAAAAAUs/uU80b8lDATI/s400/Photo-0047.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Vanakam, Kushalamena, All is wellz and here I come back after 5months .So how have you all been , anyone there who has been missing this idiot ?? ahhh well who cares ..... . Ok so now where do i start from ?? I myself i dont know , cos I got my inspiration from one of my friends who was forced to read my blog yesterday and thus i thought lets update flamingreds soon . </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Ok so you guys do know that i joined a new organisation , its rhymes with solaris and begins with a P .I will not go beyond this as . Well I was flown straight into melbourne on the 20th of April from Chennai through Hongkong . And I had enough time in hong kong to get out and see some thing . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">And thus begins the story of Mr Shyam Shankar Sivasubramaniam . Eh who is this you may ask , none other than my self .I have never in my life expanded the S in my name .Landed in a unknown continent and with no one to help , my nearest seen family member is now 5000 miles away in India . and checked into a room . I called someone called my manager to tell him that i am in Melbourne and reached safely . He picked up my phone and said , I will call you back ...... <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">I am still counting my days from the April20th 2010 , he has still not called back . Even the almighty replied to my prayers soooner than this person .A new journey began just like life back in the UK , working on a project for a super regional bank . The first three months was a severe struggle , a struggle for survival , a struggle for my identity . Its far to long to describe what i went through . There cant be anything more pain than knowing yourself that your not performing at your best . I pushed my self step by step , more into the inknown only to find myself in more deeper troubles . Things with my roommate aka my friends from back home wasnt at a great level of understanding . I think there are some things which should be kept the way they are and not bought too close or too far . At the end a painful choice had to be made , struggle in the unknown to be a warrior or be the master of the known . I chose to be the master of the known . There is always a win some and lose some . I needed my space my peace of mind to perform . Such was my state that my parents had to remind me of my aggressiveness back home .I sought after solace in stuff i never did like going for concerts ,plays ,weekly trips to the temples and just introspecting . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Life in melbourne was not easy , it never was . I have to say a million thanks to my mom for supporting me and giving me inspiration to fight and surpass all odds . These were times of sheer agony ,frustration and many a day I would sit in my room and cry ,( to anyone who thinks boys shudnt cry, am sorry your just inhuman and egoistic.). It took a giant leap of faith to overcome my fears and break the chains which i had tied myself in . It wasnt a easy one , life was tough where i would get hurt , bruised and yet i would get these words of my mom ringing in my head. ,son' push you need to fight' . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">And in all this they were this little moments of should happiness , a trip on a steam train and weekend visits to my relatives place was my only distraction .And my frustration with my organisation were rising by the day . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">A new sea of change had to come , come july and I was put in a new team , I said good riddance to all worries and yep a fresh outlook into myself . My first task was to bring my performance which was in the negatives to zero . It took a good 3 weeks to undo my negatives and finally i could say YES ! I am at zero</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">. I took some time to see how far my peers are . Or should I say one in particular . Considering my peers joined with me in April and I have reached zero in july , they were miles ahead in terms of performance , confidence and motivation . Between me and them stood 3 full months of effort . I said to myself , I have taken 2 steps back to get peace, 6months down I need to be 2 steps ahead of the guys who are now currently 3 months ahead of me . Now you work out the maths , i was never good at it . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">By mid july , flamingreds aka me was chugging along the Australian journey of life with a firm and positive resolve to achieve and perform . Things from here are no more a pain in my bloody back . I was back in business and</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">I thanked all who have given me the strength </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">. By now i had got my work permit and got my first Australian dollar salary . Life now was much more smoother and I could now began expanding my interests a little bit , Did some trips to the nearby hills and slowly was pampering myself .</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Am actually bored of writing this anymore cos I have now decided that all my pessimistic thoughts should end over here . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">But hey I am leaving this blog at a point where</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">my journey and my targets were to be achieved with many milestones to achieve . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">I do apologise for making his blog boring and filled with negative thoughts , but hang on folks .... <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">The continuation of this is going to be one heck of a ride , super fun , super freaky and a lot more positive blog filed with all my passion , . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">But if you have been patient enough to come til this way , life will always throw stuff at you . Migt be shitty .</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Some times the very own person whom you consider your shoulder to lean on will be your worst nightmare . All this should be only taken on a positive note . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">The entire struggle made me a strong person , today i say problem mmmm ... I look upto the sky and say ‘so you started something again ‘?? Sure thing just bring it on and lets see what you can throw at me . This attitude took some time to</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">get into me , but this will never ever go away . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Its all about how you look at things ,the satisfaction what you get when you get up and fight and win is something</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">i cannot describe . That feeling you have to be and endure . <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Next time you face and you think your a loser , oh no your not ,, you are ur best , go face the world !!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;">Till the next one , seeya all </span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-45586767083824351252010-04-09T19:44:00.000-07:002010-04-10T09:49:31.851-07:00Striking Contrasts , Frequent Travels and Catch up with Chennai<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/S8CrbrI8NbI/AAAAAAAAAOc/OSBpdRvGM5g/s1600/DSC07847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/S8CrbrI8NbI/AAAAAAAAAOc/OSBpdRvGM5g/s400/DSC07847.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458551240298083762" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/S7_oktFpGjI/AAAAAAAAAOM/UHL4aIxFwk4/s1600/IMG0130A.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/S7_oktFpGjI/AAAAAAAAAOM/UHL4aIxFwk4/s400/IMG0130A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458336990672525874" /></a><br />Hellloooooooooo and a big hi to all of you following my blogs . There are loads and loads of stuff to pen down and I guess i would probably take ages to fill in this blog as well . Allright my last blog said I am waiting for my summer timings .<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Err.....things took a rapid turn , I wasn't there to see my office summer timings ,it all started in the month of February when I was getting into the search for other job mode , well there wasnt actually any strong reason to Quit except for the Vitamin M factor . I basically wanted to scour around to see how much is the market outside and thus began a journey ,a choice between paths .....and thus the story begins . </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am now onto a new job into the ever famous 2nd Idiot box field , ie the software industry . It was a very very hard choice to make considering my previous employer treated me like a king and the current one only had money to lure me and nothing else . There are very few people in the world who would want to get out and get hurt and learn life , trouble is I chose that path . </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">A</span>pril 5th was my first date with the new Office , one ramshackle place about 30 odd kilometers from home .First glance ........woaaaaaaaaa , wearing ties in chennai ! ! . This city is such a bloody sultry place , you would end up with soot in less than 20 mins and have a million sweat baths in a single day . I was shown my system , looked like a trash , discarded pc from some raddi wala , a far cry from my swanky 2gb system and intel dual core at my prev place . And then was this suicidal task of filling up a 50 page form . gosh I must have written my fathers name and residential address atleast a 100 times .</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> And then was this endless wait for someone to come I was sitting in the induction room with the docs ready and for 4 hours there was no one to even attend to, not the kind off welcome i expect from the HR considering that this was my first day in office . They seem to say , welcome to the land of laziness . Rubbish was the only word , The infrastructural facilities was poles apart . I take back every curse I might have said about the AC not working , blower only on at my prev place ,cos here I have to search like a rat to get cool air at some nook and cranny of the room . </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I asked the guys around , you think the ac is working ?? to which they promptly replied . oh yes it is working take a walk outside and come back this is colder . Hmmph some logic and thus ended my first day .</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day I was at bangalore to another office an this one day trip was fun , Starts of with a 40 minute plane ride from Chennai and then 2 hr Bus ride within Bangalore city goin round and round. And finally I reach this office , wow this office was swanky and just like my prev place . i would love to work here . Later the following day I met up with my classmate shruti in bangalore for like a quick 15 minutes and off i go back to chennai . </div><div><br /></div><div>Well by now . I am more or less falling into a routine , i think i can say this as my grumbling about the new place is going down by the day and I am now reaching that stage where I can say from the good old tag line . 'What was once a problem is now routine " My day begins at 7am to the office and back at 7Pm . And I catch up my ever favorite pastime of sleeping in 3 hour combined Bus ride to the work place and back . </div><div><br /></div><div>Soon the 7am to 7pm screeched to a halt as the weekend arrived and I just lazed around with the evng trip to the beach . The beach trip was a nostalgic one with the good old kites flying , the 5 bucks peanuts which is now 15 and the beach is smashing clean . </div><div><br /></div><div>Well tht brings me to the end of this blog , Chennai has changed a lot and looks promising to throw some surprises at me . Really looking forward to those ......</div><div><br /></div><div>Till the next time ..see you all take care and keep smiling </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-47429420194865953752010-02-28T06:02:00.000-08:002010-03-03T21:42:34.203-08:002010- Year of the Flowing Thoughts19.33 on the clock and here I am sitting in front of my laptop on a Sunday evening . They say that idle minds is a devils workshop . I am not sure how true that is , but i am sure being restless. <div>Decided to do something useful by writing this blog . </div><div> </div><div>By now all of you must have noticed I never keep my promises of writing my blogs on time ,so I promise not to make promises .Lets see if i at least keep up this promise . </div><div><br /></div><div>Allright the new year has been good so far ,though I was a little upset about a few things which i will mention as we go further in to the blog . And for people who have been asking , whether i have kept my resolutions . The answer is YES . I have .... </div><div><br /></div><div>January was a speeder , the month just flew the usual work home routine and stuff there wasnt anything special in january except for the fact that I made frequent trips to my favourite highway to get rid of my furios mode . Feb is where the action and the roller coaster ,this month was a goner and by no means a cakewalk ,For starters things on the relationship was'nt good and the on off ,on off saga seemed to drag on ,until a day came where i had enough to put a full stop to it . Wasnt an easy one to choose , but feel it was the right one ,and then came the period of post break off which was even worse . I was just getting out of it when the ever famous hike letters came over and it was needless to say a big dissapointment . My CTC now looks like a Bata Shoe store Price tag .. 99.99 something . Yuck! </div><div><br /></div><div>And that whole week was me grumbling and lost in a myriad of though process whether i should stick around to the company , go for an other one , go for my further studies . And during these stages did i come to no a certain part of myself , which i thought never existed . While browsing though the net for jobs and found some jobs in other cities countries etc , I noticed me holding back something , a kind off hesitance to fill in the application form . Somewhere at the back of my head was this reluctance to move to another city . </div><div><br /></div><div>Now for all you guys who know me , I always keep saying Mumbai is my home , but the fact is time has flown and now the ever so famous hyderabad is the place I have stayed the longest till date and all the time i ve hated this city . Coming to think of it and when I introspected myself it was just down to one thing Friends..... </div><div><br /></div><div>Cities are not the show stopper for me , but friends are , the very reason I loved Mumbai for my friends there and the time we had is just repeating itself here in hyderabad . Of course the best times I had in Hyderbad are still not the same as compared to mumbai , but they are strong enough to keep me rooted to this city . </div><div><br /></div><div>And somewhere down the line , there seems to be this bonding between friends ,where we havent talked for years ever since we left school , but there is that trust that we are there for each other . My connection with my school friends have increased, we meet up every day on chat and still talk about the old times , distances are so huge , that we all are now scattered across India and that leaves all of us to grumble ... when will we ever meet up . </div><div><br /></div><div>Nevertheless things must go on and so it is .. i have been having a tough time with my choice of words offlate and it is not doing any good for me with the people i know .I dont seem to do it intentionally but I if i look back on it ,and look at it from an other person perception it does seem intentional and i would agree with those who pointed out the mistake . Man life is complicated! </div><div><br /></div><div>I am trying to get rid of my flipsides sooner , and i really need to do it , the sooner I do it myself the better for me is what I understand . </div><div><br /></div><div>Well apart from these , the upsides were there too and pretty interesting ones at at ,for starters the month of Feb was shop shop month . Me and Mom raided the lifestyle sale . And then was this first experience of clubbing . I must say ,I had never been so reserved and my feet just would'nt move at all . not that I used to dance ,I was not the dancer guy , but i do shake a leg or two to some numbers which i would know , but on this occasion ,i guess the signals werent reaching the nerves in the legs and hands ! hehe . And then were these long drives which was really refreshing . </div><div><br /></div><div>March will come soon and summer will be as well ... I am just waiting for the time channge in my office . </div><div><br /></div><div>Well that sums it up for now ... till the next one . peace and love to all </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-19265962175007917302009-12-30T09:25:00.000-08:002010-01-02T21:33:19.572-08:002009 , Reflections of the Year<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/S0AoKmf7bfI/AAAAAAAAAMA/0cm9Fiee34k/s1600-h/IMG0033A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uqtyy2BwCW0/S0AoKmf7bfI/AAAAAAAAAMA/0cm9Fiee34k/s320/IMG0033A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422378113952345586" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-INfont-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3...2...1...here he goes .</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-INfont-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-INfont-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">All right</span> the lazy guy is back again with some mad idea in his head to write down his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">December</span> in this blog . So lets see how good he can get ....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-INfont-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-INfont-family:";color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-INfont-family:";color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ahem greetings guys ,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">allright</span> from what you see above , <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">thats</span> my imaginary blog space bitching about me . Yea all right , I am lazy blah blah etc .</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Waking up to a Morning on a lazy Monday morning , I just gaze at the open wall and I say to myself 2009 is coming to an end ,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Shyam</span> you need to remember this year . 09 has been a year of sorts , honestly both professionally and personally its has been one heck of a year .Plus the events unfolding with the recent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bandhs</span> , asking for a separate state and all has certainly added the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">masala</span> touch to the year . </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I tried my best to rewind and start from January but to no avail , so i am going to go backwards as the latest thoughts are fresh and as i pen them down i will get a hint of the previous months ahead . Starting with this week , well its romantic December ever since Christmas began . Well I was supposed to be in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Mumbai</span> the Christmas long weekend which did not materialise as my mom was unwell and I had to take care of her . And besides was this god forsaken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Telangana</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Bandh</span> . I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">dont</span> know what these politicians want</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">but in my opinion Its all about Money honey for them to ask for a separate statehood . </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Same time around came one of my moms students . <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Shivangi</span> was her name , had come apparently for some MBA college look out ,well so off</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I go to pick her up and the 5 days from 23- 28 went like a whizz. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Allright</span> guys one way I was happy that I have someone here to take care of my mom while I hit office. We had fun , took her out to an Italian restaurant and had some amazing Italian buffet . And yes a drive to the temples as well . Work front has been</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">nice as well all December basically doing the odd jobs around and training people and stuff . Yes there have been those up down days when you feel like a total wreck .I attended the Departments year end bash and since it was the first time for me i quite enjoyed it and was it good . </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Saggitarian</span> guy turned 23 , well the birthday bash was no less than exciting , this birthday was well celebrated and would go down as one of the memorable ones for a long time . Gifts poured in from all ends , friends made it a happening one this time .. From the movies end I watched 3 Idiots , Hangover , <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Kanden</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Kadhalai</span> ,. Movies were good , enjoyed them all . 3 Idiots will go down as one of the best movies I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ve</span> seen so far . And plus the December has generally been my month with holidays , birthdays, parties , travels, movies etc .</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well coming to my close of my blog this time ,2010 looks very promising .</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I can feel the energy in me waiting to be fully utilised to perfection . Resolutions include doing 5 push ups a day , doing a Quality Project at Work , get myself a rise in position .Lets see how the year unfolds </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wish you all a very happy new year ….</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649059378077821682.post-69195286224670750592009-11-07T23:20:00.000-08:002009-11-28T11:32:19.035-08:00My tryst with the Garden CityHello Again<br /><br />Its a lazy Sunday morning , and with a coffee for company , thought its best that I start blogging soon before the next round of laziness sets in .<br /><br />Right so Thursday evening off I depart from Office to Catch the Bus to Bangalore . I reached the bus station with loads of time to spare. I thought I should have a quick snacker before I get into the travel . Had a Corn Something Snack at Subway .Well I was too engrossed to watch the match in which Sachin was on a roll , but every time the ads come these tb screens would go blank . So I decided to do a last minute checkup to see what i have and wats lef behind . I did know that i left my camera behind , but then realised I dont have a soap ! did put the soap in the dabba at home and all , still missed it . So went tot he shops nearby and asked for soaps and he utters chandrika medimex and lux . Hmmm<br /><br />I thought for a moment ,I have never used the other 2 brands , while Lux yep i di once in contingency mode again as there was no soap the previous time as well . So I decided to go for the tried one , which was lux . I know lux is often terme the girls soap and all , but does it really matter ??? .<br /><br />And the bus too was quite a new one , swanky new garuda volvo. The local government always had the dubious disinction of screweing new buses in maintainence or make even the new buses look trash . But this bus was in pretty good condition .Nice blue and white livery ,including the interiors as well . I settled down in my seat and noticed the bus wasnt full . i began thinking how y co passenger would be , but as he departure time camy by tehre was no one to sit an there I had teh whole 2 seats for myself .i quickly made my self extra comfortable hehe .<br /><br />And with music in my ears , decided to keep looking at the road , i always like road journeys for one reason is that one i like long road journeys and also wanted to know if my dad was just exagerating the fact that the banaglore road is bad and hence you cant drive down in the car.<br /><br />Well The road was smashin good . 4 lane and all and i was awake till like 1 am still gazing ,.. I was to come to a conclusion that dad yor just dint want to drive down in the car .<br /><br />I said crap the roads gonna be good and settled to sleep , 30 mins later , i wa being trahed around left right and suden braking and throwing , i still did no open my eyes and kept saing shyam bad roads in dreams . But the rocky ride inspite of being a volvo was too much to tolerate and one look at the roads outside ....I take back all my words and agree with dad . There isnt any road and the recent floods and road widening and all has made the roads so horrible that it shows on a volvo !I decided to snug myself to sleep but yes my back was taking a beating .The next day I woke up at 6 to see that i am back ona 4 lane highway and it said New Airpor Devahanalli , I do remember dad using these words before in conversations and I was startled, bangalore already !!!<br /><br />As per the bus timings , it wasnt supposed to reach bangalore before 8 am . And thats still 2 hrs away . I frantically called up my aunt ad sure enough this bus was in the bangalore outskirts .<br /><br />And yes as feared this bus dumped me at the last point a good hr and 15 mins early.Well before uncle picked me up .I had enough time to grab a cuppa coffee at the kamat hotel ,and thenn came the scooter ride to aunts place .<br /><div><br /></div><div>The morning was just like any other house ,unpacking and setlling down . By afternoon i was treated to a good meal and I was charting out plans . I did not have any major plans as such just meet a few friends. This was more of a family visit for me . </div><div><br /></div><div>Evening me and my cousin went out for dinner , we were spent some time yapping around . </div><div><br /></div><div>Saturday was slow and cosy as it was raining , but the lunch was quite was a quite a spread on mexican food / mmm quite a feast it was . </div><div><br /></div><div>The evening was spent well with me meeting my good old pal Aditya , was it good to be with after a long time , we had our conversation with cofee again and when it was time to return home he gave me the much awaited ferrari cap which finally came to me after a 18 month hiatus . </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday flew and before i could even wink my eye it was over and i was back on the bus to hyderabad . </div><div><br /></div><div>And guys i apologise but this blog was kept umpteen times in the draft mode ,so although it began on a sunday 2 weeks back it is now ending on a saturday 2 weeks ahead . So there is a considerable time lag .</div><div><br /></div><div>There has been lots happening in the following weeks , will update soon on them too </div><div>till then tc </div>Flamingredshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837007953647234617noreply@blogger.com0