Some Sizzling Scintillating Speculations

Hi,all!!This month, a major excitement for expat pros was the rush to get their ID cards. It was announced that those who do not get their cards by the 28.02, could have difficulties in using government services. So,all those who had not gone to the ID card centres for their cards, were early morning (Some, from midnight)queues all around the country,to get their cards. ---- These ID cards will soon replace all other cards, like health cards,labour cards,et al. In fact, it seems like they might become what a friend from the US calls their social security numbers- a Qaidi no. So, all your information gets electronically stored via these cards. On these lines, someone circulated a hypothetical future situation which had me LOLling,but, may well become reality. So, here goes:(In fact, I heard they are talking of such cards in India,too..so, beware!!) --- Operator: 'Thank you for calling Pizza Hut. May I have your....' Customer: 'Helloo, can I order..' Operator : 'C...

There was a time when I :  Would select the Noddy books which I did not have, at Allies’ book stores, and inform each Uncle one of the serial numbers from 1 to 24 accordingly. (We couldn’t afford to buy them all-they cost a princely Rs 4 to Rs 8!). Would look suitably thrilled when the books were given to me, duly marked’With best wishes from…’. Would select Famous Five / Five Findouters/Hardy Boys books.  Same reaction as in the case of Noddy. haha.  (And, in this way, my books and comics collection continued growing.Haha) Would distribute the simple variety of chocolates in school and the other batchmates would go into singing mode, while I looked on shyly. Was in Kirloskar Pneumatic, Pune one year, for an inspection with a Consultant and reached Mumbai at 10 PM, to find that my relatives were still waiting for me to return. Was in EIL, Delhi , for a meeting and had to tell them what day it was, so that they would let me go early. Was in UHDE, India for a meeting an...

I was enjoying my tea at Bombay Chowpatty(But naturally) and was amused to hear this conversation from the next table. --- Little kid, sharply dressed in a kurta-pyjama,must've been 4 or 5 yrs old. He's friskily jumping about, and Daddy suddenly gets up. "Who wants this Galaxy chocolate?" 'Kiddo naturally jumps happily'. Daddy:"First you finish your lunch" Kid turns towards plate.  Daddy quickly peels off the wrapper. Bites off half of the chocolate bar. Kiddo looks stunned. Their friend who's with the family of three also looks astonished. Daddy(By way of explanation): "Eni paase chhe ek chocolate"(He has a chocolate), and proceeds to put the bar in his pocket. Me:*no wonder, a Gujju baniya", and I grin away at the first laugh of the day!!Wonder whether the lil kid got his chocolate finally. I almost wanted to get one for him when I saw his face when Daddy was munching half of it.LOL. Just proves- we can all be kids at heart in di...

Hi,all!!Another fast-moving week. Have been just eating,dreaming,sleeping work!!So,while I write the next post, here's something which inspired me on this last working day, just as I'm about to leave for work(It's 7 AM). For more such inspirations, do see my  Inspirations blog. To realize  The value of a sister/brother  Ask someone  Who doesn't have one. To realize  The value of ten years:  Ask a newly  Divorced couple.   To realize  The value of four years:  Ask a graduate.   To realize  The value of one year:  Ask a student who  Has failed a final exam.   To realize  The value of nine months:  Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.   To realize  The value of one month:  Ask a mother  Who has given birth to  A premature baby.   To realize  The value of one week:  Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.  To realize  The value of one minute:  Ask a person  Who has missed the train, bus or plane.   To realize  The value of one-second:  Ask a person  Who has survived a...

Whew!What a week. Hectic, workwise. And,comic,food wise. Now, being someone for whom food is more of the 'eat to live' rather than 'live to eat' necessity, I never really expect it to give me such good laughs at the end of the day. So, here goes- some of the foodie events of last week: - Decided to have baked beans on toast, at one of the restaurants(One of my recommended diet items, at present-but,that's another post-the diet, I mean). So, I made a detour in the middle of my walk, and, well, walked into this restaurant. The lady at the counter begins the conversation: "Yes, Sir..good evening. What would you like to have?" Me: "Do you serve baked beans on toast at this time?" She(Looking at her watch first):"Yes, Sir.But, it will be toast and baked beans, not baked beans on toast" Me:"Why? The menu says 'baked beans on toast." She: "I'm sorry, Sir. But, we can only serve baked beans with toast." Me:"What...

Some news tidbits last week made me think. Seventeen cricketers - 'sold' for Rs 30 crores- for the IPL(Lovingly called 'Indian Paisa League' by one TV channel)....err,you did say there's a recession going on? I did wonder whether this money couldn't have been better used to help some industries out of recession? Or, maybe, it has, in a way- the cricketers who were 'purchased' can rest easy!! ---- Another news tidbit - the moral police are at it again- the SRS group in Bangalore, which has announced that any 'couple' seen in a 'Valentine'like pose on 14.02, will be married off forcibly.Come to think of it-that might be a good idea...at least all the lakhs which go down the drain in wedding celebrations will be saved...another indirect measure to fight recession,I guess. I did wonder why no film-maker has thought of making a 'different' love story on this topic? ---- These jokes are from Ritu' s blog- spoken by her children and ...

Hi,all!!Well, the last 4-5 weeks have been quite good, where my writing hobby is concerned. For those who are not aware, I write Letters to Editors, and have been doing so since the early nineties. Back then, the frequency was much more, about forty a month. Now, it's down to less than ten. In fact, come to think of it, this (last 4-5 weeks)must have been the maximum in a month, since the time I came here. Which mags? Well, there's the Jan 21 issue of Filmfare, the Feb issue of Cine Blitz, The Jan issue of Glad Rags. I event tried my hand at writing to Marie Claire and the letter's there too(Jan issue).  Then, the caption contest in last to last week's Xpress out here selected my caption as the best.(Ahem!)..no prizes, it's just the selection that makes me feel happy. Then, another letter in Weekend , last week. This one's my letter to Filmfare(One of my favourite movie mags. CB is the other)-it was edited slightly, but, still, believe me, it was and is right f...