National Blogging Month

This month is "National Blogging Month" and is dedicated to all the bloggers in this world.

I started blogging 3 yrs ago inspired by my sister. Words and I were poles apart, but still I liked the idea of writing and so I started off and even before I new I was hooked to it. My writing has taken inspiration from all corners, people, places and things. Words convey the language of heart and I believe in writing from the heart which is probably is the the only thing that has kept me going so far.

As much as I enjoy writing, I also enjoy reading other blogs too and this joy of mine has led me to sign up for various forums where I can simply enjoy reading other's blogs. In the recent years I have developed my passion for photography and was also gifted with a Nikon D 60 SLR with a 18 -55mm lenses, I have also got my photo blog site up and running. Its been a month now and thankfully I am able to post one photo every day.

My contribution on this month towards my blog will be write a post every day Thanks to NaBloPoMo who will be suggesting ideas for me to write about, so guys check out something different every day over here.

Finally I would like to dedicate this blog to each and every person who has touched my heart through their words.

Am Back

I am back celebrating 2 yrs of our married life @ Isle of Man can't wait to write about it... I wish i had extended my hoilday to spare time for my laptop, fingers and chair...

Orchids

Orchids and Lotus are my favourite flowers, purely because they bloom without expectation, they symbolise life to me. They teach me to live life without expecting from others. When I lived in India orchids were considered an exotic flower and so I could not afford them in my garden.

Here's to my first Orchid plant in my house.

Breaking bonds with fear

After having planned, cancelled, forgotten, rescheduled, ignored and being reluctant for years I finally managed to attend my first session at the Toastmasters yesterday. I am so glad I did that, I am happy and proud of myself not because I received a “First Timer Ribbon” but because I broke out of my own shell.
Speaking and reading in public has always been a challenge for me. I stammer for words and am conscious when I read. I remember standing bravely in front of 30 students and reciting poems at an English Class when I was 10 yrs and don’t know when that confidence turned into fear I now feel in competent and nervous about speaking in public.

Interesting speeches, narrations and a concept where everyone speaks and evaluates made me feel involved in the meeting. The 2nd half of the meeting was worth looking forward too, after feedback from the evaluators the toastmaster announced the Table Topics session. I was asked to put my name down for it, with a bit of hesitation I said yes and awaited my turn. We were asked to pick up a penny from a box; look at the year on the penny and speak about what that year reminds you of.

I could feel my heart beat fast as they called my name. I wanted to close my ears and pretend that I couldn’t listen to them but I stood up walked ahead, shook hands and scrambled my fingers into the box and waited to see what came my way. 2001 was the year on my penny and it took my memories back to my college days, it reminded me of a small town girl moving to city and experience a new life, studying course that was unusual and living away from mom and dad. That’s what I spoke about for 1 minute and 32 seconds.

People were pleased with my efforts, but I personally think I was nervous and I didn’t know what I was talking about. I am glad I got this opportunity, it’s surely a forum for me to listen, think and talk more and get rid of speech fear in my life.

Beach Closed

Few experiences in life stay with you forever especially when you meet someone for first time. I recently encountered one as I met Dhyeya. Last Saturday morning I had planned to visit my relative, shobana who had told Dhyeya her 3 yr old saying that vidya aunty is visiting us today and then they will go to beach.
Little Dhyeya woke up early in the morning, got herself ready very quickly and was waiting to go to the beach. I walked in around 10, the first 10 minutes she stood there looking at me. I gave her chocolates, which she accepted and said Thank you as she was asked to do so. Then she got busy in watching cartoon.
Soon we all had our lunch too, by then Dhyeya was curious to know more about me, she started talking to me about her nursery and her friends. As soon as I finished my lunch Dhyeya pulled my hands and walked towards the door. I stopped her half way through and asked where are you taking me and she answered “Vidya lets go to the beach before they close it “. I was awed by her innocence; I held her in my arms and told her that we shall leave in 5mins as soon as the rest of them were ready to leave.
Till the time we got out of the house she went around asking everyone to get ready soon. We finally left and shobana was giving me a lift half way. As I got of the car waving by to everyone, I saw Dhyeya crying, she got off the car and insisted that I go with her to the beach. She wouldn’t listen to anyone. My heart melted away seeing her cry, I had to convince her by saying that I shall meet her in the beach and good girls don’t cry. Shobana put her back in the car and strapped her seat belt. They left as it waved bye to them.

On my way back home I kept wondering If Dhyeya was fine, shobana sent me a text to say that she slept through the journey and had a good time later on. I was relived and amazed at how quickly children get attached be it familiar or not so familiar people.

Spring time of the Year

8am on a Saturday morning and the sun shines bright in to the bedroom. Eyes half open and hands crawling under the pillow grab her phone to check the time and tucks back into the duvet telling that it’s too early for a Saturday morning.
10am drags herself away from the bed to a cup of steaming hot coffee. 11am finally sets off the venture into the little town, to see clear skies with partially empty roads. She walks over the bridge as she walks beneath it she finds a pair of swans playing with their beaks travelling together aimlessly. Smiling faces with shopping bag in their hands hang around everywhere. End of every street there's a pub filled with youngsters trying to socialise, network and get ready for the busy night.
Markets filled with fresh and colorful greens; cabbages, spinach and courgette says pick me up and the onions and potatoes says I am your necessity; bright red tomatoes say “I am the last but not your least”. She walks further down to hear the hawkers say “Everything for 2 pound “ “Young Lady how can I help you” She stops to smile and say “eh…… can I have a kilo of oranges please”; she was lured by the salesmanship of the fruit seller. Old ladies and women accompanied by children try to make their best bargain; Saturday morning is the best day of the week for them.
Further down she finds the "inside market"; a huge building with tall roofing protecting her from the cold wind outside, rows and rows of shops fulfilling every need of a household. Fresh fish on a bed of ice, merchandise for baby, young and the old, tools shop, stationery, vegetables, fruits, cosmetics, flowers, plants, parlours and cafe you name it and you will find it. City Market shall always be the Old people's charm of this place.
Not too Far away from the city "look it’s a Football Ground!" She exclaimed; the lush green meadow with a net on either ends of the ground; young football lovers were trying to practise their skills on it. Besides it is a playground for children she could stand there for hours watching the kids play. Zoom.... goes a cyclists showing off his acrobatic skills."Did they get trained on these skills or were they born talented?" She wondered. On the public library is a huge chess board on the floor where the black and the whites are on for a fight. As she walked along the footpath she was excited looking at the young fitness freaks on a sleeveless top, cycling shorts with I pod gear for music and bottle of water in their hand.
The High Street! She could never miss that, one of the busiest streets in town. Shoppers and shopaholic grabbing Pizza slices, Mc Donald, Burger king and a coke in hand waking in and out of branded shops like Next, Marks & Spencer’s, Debenhams, Gap, Austin Reed, The VQ and so on. As she walks her ears tune into song "look into my eye.... “With a smile in her face she walks towards source of the song to find the violinist do a public performance. Every nook and corner of the street she finds various artists exhibiting themselves on a public forum.
Green Leaves spurring out of the brown bark, Yellow Purple and Red Flowers all around the city. Cheerful faces lost in their own world, bright and sunny skies and chill wind that blows though it. That's Spring time of Leeds in short.

Leeds Live it Love it

For a friend

Brave are your thoughts
Courageous are your actions
The vigour to fight and to
say "Let's do it now"
Is what I learnt from you

Timid little girl
You have a long way to go
Live life every moment
With smile in your face and
Joy in your heart.