Here i am, back.

After my big flop show on trying hands at blogging marathon, many times i sat down with mind full of thoughts to pen down....but as soon as i started writing i felt i need an explanation to all, a good enough one, for failing to write. So i thought and thought some more.

Home situation with no baby-sitter?
My Lil Bun's teething phase ?
Our summer vacation, which we finally managed, and visited my sister.

Ohh did i tell you about it and that how much Lil Bun loved it? He loved running in open back yard, he watered the herbs, he fed salad to chickens, he enjoyed the swings and loved the tree-house. It was so nice to see him happy and we were so happy to manage some family time together.

Only thing he didn't eat much... may be it was over-whelming everything new stage, his teething stage, or not having his dinner chair around...we could not figure it out. Then he fell sick the week following we were back and after that things have approved and he is working on getting his rosy cheeks back, almost there :-)

So you get the picture. And also last but not the least...my laziness and guilt of quitting marathon so abruptly and then not being able to drop by to say how shameful i felt about it.
But finally i have braved and i am here, writing once again.

One more thing that i am trying to get back once again is painting, sorry not painting actually but sketching. I did a lot while in school and haven't much lately so i thought why not !
Also trying to get back to cooking and trying new things.
Now let's hope i don't fall of this bandwagon this time.

Wish me luck.

Ohh and yes, also my first Karwa Chauth this year. Not first after the marriage but first that i decided to celebrate.

Happy KarwaChauth all lovely people out there celebrating.

Place I would really want to visit. - Day 8

I would like to, but don't know when will it be possible considering cold, lil Bun, holiday schedule, budget everything combined.

Weekend Getaway - Oostende, Belgium

When we moved to Europe some years back, weekend getaways used to be our favorite. Take a day or two free from work, combine it with a weekend and just drive or fly. 

After our lil Bun, we felt like we have grown out of it and needed to settle down, we started preferring those relaxing getaways where you need minimum a week and are not rushing everywhere. Now that our lil Bun is past one, and we see how much he loves outings, it seems like we are getting back at our search of weekend getaway places. 

Thing is how many times you want to go to the same place again and again? We have been longing for a change of scenery past weeks and looking at weather last weekend, that is nice and sunny, we decided it was time for much deserved break.

So there started again the same debate, where to?

Ostend Beach front

We were almost certain we will end up driving to our all time favorite Paris, but there that question - how many times do you want to go to same place again and again? Like we have been there million times, so there won't be much sight seeing that we would be very much interested in. And what more, even our lil Bun has been there.

Then suddenly i remembered a name of a place that i came across sometime back but had been waiting for warmer days. 

So that's where we went. To "Oostende" (or Ostend) in Belgium. 

Wapenplein, Ostende's main square

We drove off like we always do, without much of a plan and last minute decisions with a few things in bag and a camera.

What we didn't realize was that it was a nice sunny weekend after such a long time, so it was as if everyone on this side of world was out there, having some vitamin D. More to that school vacations in Belgium just started. And everything in Oostende and in peripheral of 40kms was fully booked !

Nevertheless, none of that dampened our spirits and we did end up having nice time anyway.

Bell Tower at Wapenplein, Ostende's main square.

We were amazed, there were so many babies and strollers all around and not to forget so many dogs ! No wonder lil Bun had gala time. He loved walking, running, shouting with excitement at other kids and dogs. At times he would just pull our hand and wouldn't budge because he wants to go behind that dog and not where we were heading to. 

He loved looking other kids, even kids-at-heart bigger kids playing at beach. 

There were many kids riding those cycles where you lie down on your back, don't know name of that one, but lil Bun loved to look at that and was excited seeing kids riding them. 

People partying on big cycles with music and beer. Total fun.

From there we went to Brugge, one of our all time favorite. It was nice to remember good old times that we had spent there,during our previous visit, and certainly how well we still remembered those streets. 

Museumschip on the backdrop.

So that was it. Our weekend refreshing get-away. 

However before we drove back, we did promise ourselves to be back there again some day, just to do nothing and lie down there at the beach. Bliss !

Life in a Blur, and still so good.

Remember those times when you feel like you are living  life out of a book.

And times when you are living life in a blur.

That's what happening to my life. I don't even know if i am living it or it is living by itself.

You love to write (You means me here), everything you come across you promise yourself that you will write about it, and then it just blurs out.

So much happened in the time that lapsed. 

Lil Bun turned one end of the May. Past months he faced ear infections (twice) and had a sick period but look at him now is no more a baby, almost walking. Almost because that is as long as he doesn't know he is, as soon as he realizes he is walking on his own he comes and holds your hand. So now i am finding tricks to make him more absent minded so that he doesn't realise he is walking. Does it make sense to you? You believe and try to picture everything i say, don't you? I know. hehe 

Also I am back to love cooking, (and take pictures of it like some food maniac so that can blog about it, and then keep prostrating ! Sigh). Have so much lined up, i will get back to it. I promise. Meanwhile seriously want to get my blogs new look and feel, but i do not know how and love of my life is too busy now a days to help me out. So basically i am just waiting for some miracle to happen.

Have been feeling good to fit in old cloths ( not "old" old, but those from pre-pregnancy) but at the same time very well aware that still not back at what i used to be. But what does it matter as long as you feel comfortable under your skin. And let's face it i am not the same anymore inside out. I am a mom of a little miracle of our lives that indeed changed us and our lives inside out.  

If you don't feel good in a dress, don't buy it. If that dress is too tight for you, just notch up a number and go for another dress, as long as you feel good and you are comfortable.

Life is too short to be worried, to take stress and to worry about what other people think about you or they like you or not. 

Now that we are catching up on time lapsed inbetween, let me admit.... ahem, I also got a year older (and wiser, hopefully) this April.  It must be wiser to overcome obsession of FaceBook for say. But i am still there to keep a check on you that you don't do anything ridiculously naughty. Ohh did i just say that? What i really wanted to say is don't care for people thinking it is because of side-effect of having a baby which makes you to have not enough time. It might be true at times, but it will never be true to the core for always. Having him in our lives just taught us that there are more important things in life than living a virtual life, picturing a perfect life and eyeing other picture-perfect lives. 

I don't think being fake, jealous, judgmental or to be around such negative auroras was going to do any good to me. Instead of pretending why can't i just be what i feel like, why can't i just say what i think about.  And who cares seriously, well i know we all do care at one point or other but i mean isn't it good that you get to miss me and long to see me, just so that you can go being your bitchy/ judging self? haha But i like the part that you long to see me, i will ignore the rest ! I am in a good mood you see?  

Just my 2 cent of advise, having an awesome life in real is more important than having an awesome virtual life. Virtual life can wait, real life won't.

See i told you, i am getting wiser with age. Now don't roll those eyes, okay?

So back to so much happened...

I am really happy as after about one year i managed to be back at reading. Reading is something i always loved since i was a kid. Haven't be reading any intellectual stuff really if you ask me. Just some chic lits from Jill Mansell, just because i liked one of hers and ended up ordering so many from her. Light, and very chic. And with characters you can relate and can take you back to those bright dreamy days of hopeless romance your eyes sparkled with, once upon a time. I feel happy. All books end happy. Perfect. I love happy endings. Eventhough it doesn't make any sense in the real world still i do, I am a girl you see.

We managed to take some vacations. I don't remember if i mentioned before but i had such high hopes from Easter holidays. But i ended up cancelling and re-scheduling bookings to May because of weather (too much rain, too cold, snow in spring, seriously?) and health of my lil Bun. 

But the weather started getting better, and so did everything around us. We made a trial trip to small beautiful town of Belgium "Kortrijk" and a beautiful city from France "Lille" and of april. It was great, eventhough i was sick at the time, i felt great. We were out, breathing fresh air, bathing in sun, eating good food. Happy. Good.

And we made my re-scheduled trip from march in May. We been to Malta. Honestly it was nothing compared to what i had expected out of it. 

All I thought about was beaches, sun and warmth. And not to forget convenience of speaking english. But it ended up surprising me with much more than that it has to offer. Whether it was having a stroll in it's capital Valletta, or getting lost in time capsule in old city Mdina, or just simply standing there overlooking the Bastions ! It was perfect. 

We explored almost whole island and our lil Bun behaved himself like a pro-traveller. So proud of him. And so happy that he inherited liking for travelling from his parents.  He was so happy to be out, to enjoy the freedom of playing in open air, to stand at the balcony and gaze at sea while the breeze plays with his face. He smiled, he laughed and we all felt utterly happy. 

So what else can i say, just that Life is good. Thanks for everything that i am. And thanks for accepting me as i am. You didn't mean to me this much without a reason. Yes i mean you, you !

A quick hello from a DizzyLand.

After my last post, i wanted to record how the actual flight went. But things haven't been that good lately, me being sick when we flew back and then Lil Bun being sick.

It feels like whole world has been up side down. Our lil Bun, who had been sleeping in his own room and bed from the birth, is not doing that more than half a night. First it was teething, waking him up crying at middle of night, and then it is fever and vomiting.

So with that after a few visits to his room, when our sleepy heads can take it no further, we just bring him with us to make it easy for us to keep a watch on him. 

I know that might not be the way it should be, but frankly i do not care. We co-slept with our parents till the time came when we fancied our own room with the interior the way we want, and we did turn out alright. 

Also i keep feeling i am going to miss these days soon when i can just snuggle him and shower him with kisses at my hearts content. Soon he will be running away saying mom, stop it. And soon he will want to go for night-over at his friends. So let me have him, let me enjoy him right now.

Ohh but that was not i was writing about, ya flight. Well while going, it made me cry, and while coming back i was sick and still we smiled!

So a vast vast vast difference. I had him in my hand for almost 10 hours, My hurting back couldn't take it any more,poor thing was tired than he had ever been before. So we both cried. At airport. I have never seen him crying that much ever before. I am happy it is over.

May be it was inconvenient flying hours and inexperienced we. Our first experience with him on a long flight and yet to learn how to handle him on trips. But we knew better while on the way back after being with him 24*7 for full 5 weeks. Also the flight was in the morning and hence better. He could sleep and was in a better mood. So that gives us enough courage to start getting back to our traveling spree and plan more vacations, only if out pocket allows! 

So let's see, what's in store for us. Something sweet, something breezy, something relaxing, something bright and sunny. Let's see.

Time flies, Lil Bun flies !

Now that I started writing, all i want to do is write, write, write. 
I realized that these days are too important and they are just flying away without me locking some feelings into words! 

While we are on "Flying", it reminds me of our little Bun's first flight to be; yes yes yes he is going to fly... 
... What can be nicer than flying for the first time to meet his big Indian family ! 
     ... Lil Bun is 6 months now; everyone has been longing to see him & hug him !!
          ... He will be attending a wedding for the first time, a big fat Indian wedding !!!

All smiles :o)

It's not like he didn't have any vacations so far, he had since he was just a few weeks old (his first international getaway was nearby, to Antwerp, when he turned one month old ! )but we kept it on ground TILL NOW. 
Mainly because it has been a fight to sort out all legal documents for our lil Bun so that he can travel. 
Passport took ages due to some birth certificate error which they would not inform us until we put it in for speed up after waiting for more than 3 months. But atleast then it went fast. In a week passport was ready, next week we applied for his visa/ residence permit and now it is ready in-time for us to make it to India !

We don't know about him but we are excited and at the same time overwhelmed thinking about everything and everyone together. 

I will be meeting my brother-in-law and sister-in-law first time after our wedding ! Now that is something. 
I will be seeing my 3.5 years old nephew for the first time! 
I will be meeting new generation generation babies from old friends !!
And hopefully we will catch up with some good comfort food that we have been missing over here, if our stomach allows! 

We do not know how it will be, how lil Bun will be, how will we manage and how much will he enjoy. But he will see, he will experience, he will learn and he will grow. We think.

Somethings here and there...

Isn't it incredible, since how long I haven't been writing!
Ahh don't even ask me the reason! Not because I have endless reasons, more because I don't know the reason. Haven't I been complaining lately about kind of writer's block? Then there it may be, even though I am not a writer!
Well, now that I am here writing, I don't even know what I want to write about! It's just that internal feeling of not having been writing lately and an urge to write!

There were so many funny incidents, which when happened I made a note to myself to write about it the next time but when I am actually here now, nothing comes to the mind! Well, that's me, isn't it?

2011 started pretty well, with us being in India for the New Year. Lots of yummy food, lots of shopping, catching up with family and friends. Aaah as usual made some usual new year resolutions as well.... like to start saving a bit finally or to be back on exercise regime and to take learning Dutch more seriously, also to start learning atleast basic French to be able to ask atleast if they have anything vegetarian on menu...hehe It's not even 2 months and tell you, everything is in vein already!

Yes did a bit of superb cooking also in-between the time while was away, have been collecting pic for some time now and procrastinating posting recipes on my Food blog for sometime now but soon will do that... hope so. Also started back on that long work-in-progress painting, and looks like 2 more sittings and it will be ready to hang on the wall! You will know when I am done with those as you will see me updating on my "Colors - My Art Studio". We just have to wait now when those 2 sittings happen! :-P

Also made a trip to Belgium last week. It was very interesting in the sense until we left home, we were not sure where are we heading to. Just thought we need a break while on the way back home from grocery that Saturday and in 30 mins we were out on the roads. We ended up in Antwerp that night, tried an Indian restaurant in Antwerp for the first time. We already knew that there is a big Gujarati community there due to connection with Surat diamond business / exports. I was mentioning that on the way that there must be some restaurant as well and amazingly we ended up at this place where the owner was Gujarati and got to speak Gujarati in a restaurant in Europe for the first time (except in England last summer) !

Believe me that once you are full with Indian dinner, you can't get any lazier! So decide to do overnight stay there and went for a long drive from there the next morning. Explored the region of Ardennes , and it is truly beautiful.



Ohh and we saw something interesting in Antwerp behind the glasses.... go figure :P

London Shower...

Wrote this post while was on summer vacation, sitting in London. Finally it is seeing the daylight today! :o)

~~~***~~~

Every country in Europe has its own stories about how imperfect weather can be.

When we started preparing for UK trip, I read the same, never trust the weather. Being used to hearing that about everyday I knew what it meant. (Or atleast I thought so!)

At London, we took the Thames cruise to enjoy the beauty of London from river of Thames.

It was really nice weather, almost perfect. Sun was shining in clear blue sky. After a while it started penetrating our skins as we were sitting on deck. Some more minutes and it started getting a bit too much and Ashu asked me if I wanted to move inside cruise as it was getting really warm. I replied I was liking it… sun, river and cruise.

While thinking the same those words that I read so many times rushed to my mind “Never trust the weather here”. I wondered if it was possible to experience that chill now while the sun shines. I smiled and settled my wondering mind over admiring tower of London and the bridge,

A moment passed and a cold breeze touched my cheeks. I actually liked it after this warm penetrating sun rays.

A few more moments and it was windy, getting chiller moment y moment forcing everyone to put on their jackets.

A few moments and came a drop on my forehead.

A few more moments and we were rushing downstairs towards downstairs on cruise. While hearing those last words of trip from tour guide, we were sitting in comfortable chairs enjoying view of London eye from behind the glass windows with heavy shower blocking the view!

So here I am, repeating the stereotype you might have heard hundred times:

“While in London, you never know what to expect, so always e ready to expect the unexpected.” :o)

Dear Sun...

When it was winter, we complained how insanely cold it was and how much we wanted you and warmth you offer.When it was Spring, we felt happy that summer is no far. Soon will be having you more.


When summer was delayed, we cried missing you complaining how longest day of year is gone without making us feel summer arrived !

You were moved by all the longings, feeling happy and shining with biggest bright smile and that made us cry with how hot it was, almost suffocating. No sun burns, no sun strokes please.

You felt offended, you didn't know what we wanted anymore. You cried, you wiped, you shouted and all we had was rain, wind and thunderstorms. We complained about bad weather !

I understand it is not possible to make everyone happy and you can't be everywhere, but now as we plan to take our summer vacation, dear sun please forgive us for all the immaturity we shown.
We want you, we appreciate you and i promise you to be thankful, to be happy and not to complain about you, only if you just keep smiling ( Yes, just a sweet smile, not that laugh showing all those brightness with your sparkling teeth ).

If not everywhere, Please be where i will be, at UK.


Image Courtesy : Google
Is any of the images used are copy righted, contact me. I will happy to give the due credit or remove it.

Do you speak Glaswegian?

There are something which you already know but still they make you feel happy when you encounter them. Felt same when we landed in Edinburgh. (Yes, I am talking about our last week vacation at Scotland)

Fact that we could actually understand all the announcements, notices, displays, adds...hahaha

We were so happy that wow, here we don't have to wonder what does that announcement or notice means or how to explain something to someone, here language is English !

We came out of Airport, it was easy to follow the instruction, kept walking towards car rental, picked up the car.

Talked with my sister (who is doing her master studies at Glasgow school of arts) in response to her inquiry if we were already there, safely.

I chattered happily ...

Hey wow you know what we love this place, it's so easy to communicate !

arrr...hmmm...likewise?

Everything in English feels so relaxing now !

Ohh ya, that way !

It's nice being able to understand everything.

Ohh wait until you have to communicate more with them.

What do they mean, Official language in Scotland is English, isn't it?

It is.

Then?

It's Scottish English, and wait till you are in Glasgow and you 'll know what i mean !

hmmm ok.

And we knew what she meant as soon as we entered Glasgow and all our first response ended up being same as - huh? sorry?

hehehe

But afterall it's English, ears gets acquainted with it after some time. And good thing, not everyone in Scotland speak that thick accented fast-paced Glaswegian English !

Yes in Glasgow they speak Glaswegian , not exactly English. ;o)

---***---

On the side note, While googling i came across so many website, offering help with Glasgow accent ! Amazing !

Look at this -

http://www.clyde-valley.com/glasgow/dialect.htm

http://glaswegian.info/Glaswegian-to-English-dictionary-Um-U-Urr-Urnae-Scottish-Words.htm

http://maryglasgowmagazines.com/students/features/8951?level=club

Back...

Ok so i am back to office and still quite cant make my mind to work, and so i thought to drop off a few lines.

Slept at around 4:00am last night and so still feeling dizzy, but there was no way i can skip the office, i wish i didn't have to do it yesterday either but that's different as there was no choice.

You know this Volcano... we checked before driving to Edinburgh airport from Glasgow and it did show scheduled. We returned rented car and walked to airport and whoaaa... it's cancelled !

There were lots many people taking bus and ferries, but considering 22 hrs and 15 hrs respectively which it was going to take, we decided to drive to London and take a train for that. I think which was a good decision as it gave us an extra evening which made it possible to spend some time with very good friends from good old days Dipali & Nik. I think it was the first time after graduation that we were meeting, almost after 8 years !

Dipali was my class mate, bench-mate and part of many mischiefs together at the engineering day. Great thing was that gap of time didn't feel a bit that may be due the fact we talk almost everyday online haha.

We saw their son also for the first time, but as he was seeing us for the first time he was shying away and i am hoping a better time playing with him next time. He is such a cute boy !

So it was not that bad that trip was extended. And yeah London, this was the first time and i had totally different image of it than what i saw there... but we only spent half a day there and i have to go back there again.

And yeah that hi-speed train through tunnel, it only took 2 hours to reach Brussels, Belgium from London. This was our first time with this train and this route as well and it was a pleasant surprise ! It made me think we don't have to take flight everytime, train is more convenient and we don't have to worry about what's in our hand luggage, what's in our checked-in luggage and they wont allow my water or juice bottle in hand luggage...hehe

Ok, i better get back to work now, it's already piled up and i don't want to work over-time. I want to go home and sleep well.

Ohh yes, and one more thing, i have a realisation that when i started this blog it was more like sharing as i liked to talk and share and know some other like-minded people, it was never meant to be a bit formal like it was getting lately, and i think that's the reason of posting not so often as well as i am getting so freaked out about everything being so perfect, with pictures and all. But that's not stress-relieving as i wanted it to be, that's more work and more stress.

I want it to be what i intended it to be, my open diary where i write what i think, some expediences i feel like sharing and would like others to know about it or want other opinions.

What does it matter that it doesn't look like an expat blog, it never was and I am not a writer !

See you laterz then if you are still here :)

Finally... Up in the air!

Do you remember I was planning to do something special on our Anniversary which the weather didn't allow us? (HERE)

Well finally we did it this weekend.

That was the surprise I had planned for Ashu booking a hot air balloon flight for both of us. First time on our anniversary, day was nice and sunny but it had been raining previous week and so fields weren't dry enough for take off and landing. Second time re-scheduled on weekend of my birthday, again day was nice and sunny but it got a bit windy in noon and in a direction which meant going towards sea, not nice thing.

Only thing it didn't remain surprise until we finally did it. After two failed planning, I had to let Ashu know what was that surprise! And you would have seen his face at that moment when I told him, aaah lit with delight hehehe.

And then he was no more upset with what it is, why not this time, this is not done and all frustration and he started looking fwd to it as much as I was.

We had re-scheduled it again for this weekend and finally it was weather perfect, nice sunny warm, perfect for outing, or shall I say outing in the air !

We started for Amersfoort - Hoogland from where our flight was to take place in the evening. We were to meet at this small field from where we would take off. There was one other balloon flight too apart from us which was taking place.

It started with Michael, our pilot briefing us on to do-- not to do and how to do! Sanne, who was my contact through mails, helped us to understand a few things by translating in English.

Most exciting part of whole experience was take off. We started with inflating the balloon with cold air first. Then filling it with hot air. When there is enough hot air inside it starts getting up. Ohh and you are supposed to be inside the basket before it's up.

So while basket is lying on the ground, half of us get into that, apart from those helping with the task of holding balloon straight. Then as air fills in basket tilts upward making it straight and that's the time rest of the passengers gets in.

And then before you know it's in the air. Obviously while it's straightening it's tied with jeep as well until it's straight enough to avoid accidents.

It was a wonderful sight from above. We could see Amersfoort, Utrecht also Amsterdam, Rotterdam at distance.

Awesome view!

Spotted palace from above...

Spotted some fellow travelers in the air...

Awesome sunset view, loved it :o)

Spotted some wild cows in the woods...

That’s the ground where we landed…

We landed at Hilversum - Flying school ground. There were some small cute planes lying around there... hehe

That’s top of balloon opening for hot air to escape….

And perfect landing….

Trying to flatten the balloon, look how tiny they look against the balloon!

When we reached other crew members were already there with help of GPS.

We all helped with again flatting the balloon and packing it.

After everything was packed, Michael again gave a small speech on history of ballooning. Then we had tradition of "champagne christening", followed by a glass of champagne together.

This is the view I captured after pack up…

I don't need to mention it was such a memorable evening or do I? :o)