Soiree

Attended a soiree on saturday. Much more smaller affair than I had expected, but just as enjoyable. Pleasant evening. Time and space gallery, a charming extension to an old fashioned bunglow, with its low green trees against the grey skies, terracotta horses with bright pebble eyes, with art-work tastefully placed was a delightfull backdrop. Towards the end, for an encore piece, the Cellist picked what he called background music. He asked us to feel free to chat, have a cup of coffee, drag the chair... He settled down with the other two and then smiling at the resolute audience said, "We havent practised. please chat". cute.

After the soiree, on the way back, I met a doctor who does volunteer work for the upliftment of the female child. I told her that my home town is close to the infamous usilampatti. She told me about the research she had done on the subject and the various statistics. We bemoaned the horrors meted out to the female child and sighed about our inability to change the world.

Wants

radhika nathan wins the oscar. She says something very witty as she collects the award. Tom hanks smiles. cut. radhika nathan finishes the New york marathon. Crowd cheers. cut. radhika nathan gets up wearily from her system. She has just tracked the latest virus to a guy in a yacht in the south pacific.

radhika nathan finishes cleaning the piled up dishes of the last one week.

Chores chores

Did a lot of physical work. Nothing exciting. Just back breaking household chores that had piled up alarmingly since I moved to the new house. Reminded me of the days in US without a maid. I dusted, swept, mopped, did the dishes, the laundry till my back and my hands started hurting. I feel a certain exhilaration after physical exertion, a sense of triumph. I wish it were something better though - maybe a long run, planting a flower bed, carpentry, maybe etching glass.

Late in the night after finishing up, I unrolled my long forgotten yoga mat on the now spotless floor and did some yoga listening to Jazz. Then reclined on my favourite chair and listened to the rain lashing on the deserted street. Peace.

Dowry

My chauffer's sister was married off recently. He had borrowed an exorbitant amount of money from many of his friends (and his employer, I should add). Apparently the bridegroom's demands grew quite a bit more than what he had saved. After listening to his tale of repayment woes, I gave him a very sensible suggestion. I told him to get married.

Xanadu

Finished reading WD's "In Xanadu". I opened the book with much anticipation, since it was highly recommended and found the beginning somewhat disappointing. It seemed too much of raw history and no personal touch. Then the journey takes them and us to Turkey. After Turkey, the pace improved and I found it more and more enjoyable. I found William Dalrymple funny, curious, erudite and most of all sympathetic to the cultures he crosses. Made me add more stuff to my wish list.

The wide-eyed enthusiast who recommended the book, while recounting, mentioned "they both are almost there, when the authorities catch them. his girl friend bursts out crying. and then..". Turns out she doesn't. Its Dalrymple who feels like bursting into tears. Goes to show.