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Showing posts from 2012

Work-Life Balance

The other day as I made my way home from work, a friend called and asked what I would be doing that evening, at which point I explained that I would be showering and heading out again to meet some other friends. At which point, she jumped in with a "I don't know how you do it. I couldn't go out again after a full day at work, I'd be too exhausted." Now to be perfectly honest here, I was exhausted and I could have easily chosen not to go out once again but when I quit my last job, I promised myself in the new place that offers me better timings, I would maintain a better work-life balance. And often, this is something I stick to it, even if it kills me to do it. Now, at this point, I know some of my friends are going to point out how I'm lucky enough to live bang in the centre of Bombay and that I have a mere 30 minute commute to work everyday. Sure, I have a job that has a 10 to 6 timing, but there's much more to it then that, I often have meetings, c

Helping Real Oviedo

A while ago, I published on this blog my bucket list. The 30 things I would like to do before I die . Now, contrary to perception, this is not a definitive list and I keep adding items on it to with a regularity that stuns those who know me well. My love for football been a well-documented fact on this blog so I shall not go into it in detail and drive away the very few readers I have left. And this very love for the game is why I'm oftenest to be found on Twitter discussing, debating or even arguing on all things football related. And recently, my favourite football writer Sid Lowe made several impassioned pleas on Twitter to help save his club Real Oviedo. A team in the third tier of Spanish football. How could we help? By buying shares at approximately €10.75 each and help raise €1.9 million and let the fans take over the club which has seen financial mismanagement bring it to the brink.  Why help Real Oviedo? Because despite their recent troubles, Real Oviedo have

Gogoji, Aapka Ghagra

  Day 02 - Favourite Movie In a confession that often astounds friends and family, I'm not much of a movie-watcher. I rarely watch movies. It took me over a year to watch 3 Idiots, I haven't seen Sholay, the definitive movie for millions of movie-going Indians and I haven't watched Avatar and I haven't watched Casablanca, Gone With The Wind or The Godfather either. Cinemas aren't really my thing and I go for the movie to be with my friends and have fun as opposed to intently watching a film for its own sake. But what I do watch more than occasionally on the other hand is Zee Cinema. A certain friend of mine thinks that is proof that I'm actually 90, but that's neither here or there. So if any of you out there actually watch Zee Cinema, you'll know what I do. That one of the most repeated movies on Zee Cinema is Andaz Apna Apna. Now you may disagree with me here, but I do think that that film is a cult classic with good ol' slapstick co

Me and you are subject to the blues now and then

Last time, despite my best efforts. Okay fine, no efforts at all. I did not succeed in carrying out the 30 Day Project and this time around I have solemnly sworn to myself that I will carry this out even if it kills me. So then, Day 01 - Favourite song I've never had a particular favourite song, there are just too many out there to pick just one, so instead I'll tell you one that is constantly on repeat on my iPod. Neil Diamond's Song Sung Blue. Simply because the song played on the radio late one night as we made our way home and ever since then I can't help but think of us crowded into a car singing at the top of our voices and the happy-sad feelings it evoked. Another perennial favourite of mine is this one. Mainly because it's Liverpool FC's anthem and even over television, it's awe-inspiring and spine tingling to watch 45,000 people packed inside Anfield singing and urging their team on and mostly because I hope to be there one day doing e

Gut-wrenching Want

Today, I'm wanting. I'm wanting so bad, I can feel it with an intensity that makes my hands tremble as I type this, that keeps my stomach churning at super-sonic pace and keeps me unable to focus on anything else. The kind of wanting that has you reaching out to take, barely able to control yourself. It's rare to be presented with an opportunity like the one I've just received and if everything goes the way it ideally should, it will be a once in a lifetime experience and that's why I'm so worried and anxious. If I don't receive it though, I know that a tiny part of me will splinter and die. Perhaps I'm being overly dramatic, maybe I'm not. I don't know. I have wonderful family and friends and I know that they will always be there to support me. But I also know what a solitary creature I am and how my deepest wounds are only aired in private. That I rarely ask for help, I ask for prayers, for good thoughts, but rarely to be helped. Anywa

Of Story-telling

At my previous job, something very important was sucked out of me: My will to write. I stopped regularly updating this blog a long time ago, but I still wrote. For myself. In little leather-bound notebooks that nobody has seen. But in the two years I worked at the old place, I slowly gave it up. Days passed in a blur of odd hours and all the daily nonsense that bogged me down. Even on the odd day I was off, I chose to do other things. I saw things that made me want to write but I didn't. Instead I kept it locked tightly inside me. But now that I'm here. A place that I feel happier and much freer in. Where I can be me. And I can be creative and dizzy and forgetful. Where I can earnestly talk to people about where they're from. And listen to them talk about their cities and their countries. And I tell them, eyes shining, about India and my Bombay. And how much I love it. At my new job. I feel the urge to write again. I write in the new book bound with gilt-edg

Back out in the open

It's been a while since I've written here. Over a year if you want to nitpick. And while I often contemplated several posts, somehow I lacked the drive to do it until today. I wondered if anyone was still reading me, until I woke up to the realization that primarily I write for myself and as long as I continue that, I'll be fine. 2011 was an intriguing year. One of 'mostly' ups and very few downs. I did plenty during that year - I laughed, I danced, I sang, I travelled. More importantly, I rediscovered myself. After my old job that sucked all the old soul out of me and made me cranky and crabby (yes, I can hear some of you say 'what's new'). But 2011 in some ways restored me. It made me whole again. Made me realise what's important to me and what's not. My new job, you ask? So far so good. I'm tremendously enjoying it. It has its hard moments, but more often than not I love it and I go in to work happily every day. It's already given me s