Frenchman's creek

It is here! I recently purchased a 1942 hard bound gold rimmed edition of my all-time favorite novel! Yes! Frenchman's creek by Daphne Du Maurier.

While Rebecca and Jamaica Inn are close contenders to the all-time favorite throne, Frenchman's Creek will always rule the roost, in my bookshelf, at least. As a young adult, this had always been my beloved novel to escape into the beautiful locales of Cornwall, to dream of the thrills and spills experienced by Dona St Columb with her characteristic chutzpah. Since then Cornwall and Wales have been topmost in my list of must-visit-places.

There is something in the way the author romanticizes the story that has me enthralled and being the unconventional that I've always been and wished to be, this book has been a great inspiration just going by the pure and spirited romance that the novel and the author have come to signify.

Herewith this book has been affectionately enthroned in my bookshelf with utter respect and admiration.





















~~~~~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Date with dusk

Getting zoo-o-logical

This past week, I went primitive. Errrr, no I didnt exactly retro into being a cave-woman, it just means I left my daily add-ons- the cell phone, laptop and car and went on an extended break. It was a test that I've been wanting to try for a while now. Boy, it sure was a welcome load-shedding!

I went someplace where I used the public transport, never checked email nor use my cell phone. I additionally didnt have to cook or clean either. The slow paced holiday was a sure antidote for the stressed nerves and tangled mind. I have since unwound and am all set to get back in action. Yeee haw!

So I also fell in love with animals all over again. I've never been much of an animal lover and I am also not comfortable with having pets of my own, or other people's pets. For the likes of me, zoos are good enough to recharge my zoological batteries.

So enjoy and happy holidays!





I loved the tree kangaroo's sleeping pose. Adorable!

Footnote : This holiday season Santa has injected a "drinking chocolate" craving in me that just doesnt seem to go away. I've been drinking hot chocolate very religiously and I am still not over the craving. This could be a keeper fad! For the chocolate-haters like me this is a new turn! Thanks L for feeding the fad with a hot chocolate pot replete with hot chocolate packs!!

Tis that season

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

To wish upon a star

For a long time, I have evaded answering questions like "What would I do if I had a million dollars?" because, the practical thinker that I am, I always reason that I wouldnt just have a million dollars out of the blue and hence the point would be moot as to what I'd do when I did have one. But for some time now, I have begun to wonder what I'd do if I had all the money I could get and didnt have to work for it. Woah! Imagine having an unlimited stash and not have to worry about paying bills or working to make ends meet and all one had to do was assume the credit card and bank account were taken care of!

So here goes- I am all set to answer the question "What would I do if I didnt have to work for my living?"

I'd travel. Yes- And no I wouldnt take a year long sabbatical, but it would be in phases. Maybe a month and then back to home base to overcome the "home-sickness". Europe, Africa, Down under, Russia, China, South America- Yes, I'd definitely travel. I dont know how long all that would take- but who's counting right? Cause I do have all the time and money, so to speak.

For most part I'd like to sign up for classes. I know- havent I been educated enough? But these are soft skills. I know what my profession is/can be. Now I want to hone my hobby skills.

I'd sign up for dance lessons- like hire a personal dance trainer. In those months I am in between travel, I'd learn to dance. And after some extensive training, tada! I could dance to rock any party in town.

Hm, I'd sign up for baking lessons too- I love to bake and even sign up for cake decorating classes. Then I'd make a small business selling them too! Hey no one said I couldnt have a small business going.

Photography has taken a backseat for some months now. I'd go and get the Digital Rebel, that which I've been craving for and sign up for advanced lessons.

And then I'd learn to sew and knit and crochet. I'd retro back to my painting skills and paint all day. I'd have multiple tiny projects that I'd switch back and forth.

Then there's reading and writing and movies and checking out shows and exhibitions and then there's...............shopping! Gosh- to grow my shoe collection and clothes and jewelry and accessories.

Egad!!! There's so much to do ! Alright! I need a sugar daddy me thinks.

This weekend I saw a T-shirt that said "Auditions open for a new sister". I have to paint myself a custom made "Auditions open for a sugar daddy or sugar momma!". Any takers? Hm, well maybe I'll stick with wishing for a fairy godmother!

A case of the classics

Recently I had been to a book fair(not too good a one, I must admit) and sheer disgust at the thought of coming away empty handed prompted me to pick up an old-time classic by Oscar Wilde- The Picture of Dorian Gray. I have read this book quite a few years ago, as part of the classics-must-read series.

A re-read was definitely worth it and leads me to affirm my belief that "old is gold". For most part, I believe I am a sentimentalist. While I like good stories, modern day thrillers, humorists, wit and the like, my true love is always for these classics that brim with melifluous language and detailed descriptions that forces the reader to imagine and dream of Victorian period settings and grandiose surroundings. Its such an easy trapdoor to escape into utopia where the characters in the novel surround one with mystery, romance and wonder.

Talking about this novel, while I dont wish to add spoilers for those that have not read this book, I do have to mention, its not your everyday story. For the novice reader, this might as well be macabre to some extent. But the concept of narcissism has been beautifully portrayed and one finds it hard to not empathizee with the central character.

Interestingly, while I was browsing what wiki had to say about this book, I found this very interesting list. I am still wading through it to see how many I've checked out and how many need to be added to my reading cart.

Self-prediction for the day : A lot of reading is in the charts!

"Shop till you drop" season

December! -what it means to me :
- Christmas
- New Year being just around the corner
- Birthdays galore- I know too many Sagittarians for my own good!
- Shopping, shopping and more shopping
- Travel
- Endless parties and binging (as an outcome of the above mentioned events)

While I continue to be in denial that I am a registered shopaholic, I marvel at how easily I come up with excuses to head towards the mall. And the American consumerism has mastered the art of luring saps like me- I am convinced they make quite a fortune from the likes of us.

And then of course there are the wary, cautious, educated shopper who scans the websites and coupon books and all and sundry. Shopping for them is a controlled mind game and they function almost like those assembly line-ups in a mechanical factory. They move like robots from one aisle to another(sometimes I wonder if they even get snapshots of the specific aisles where their interested items are located!-ha!). The December season does nothing to unfaze their determination and resolve.

As for me, I am the harum-scarum, go-crazy-like-the-bull-in-the-china-shop kind of shopper. Let me loose in Walmart or at Neiman Marcus and I can run amock. And this season sees me at my finest lunacy. From clothes to shoes to jewelry to accessories like belts and handbags to shower gels to books to calendars to winterwear like gloves, scarves and hats and last but not least even down to cookware! Man, I shop and stock and restock till my apartment looks like some kind of warehouse. And the poor salesclerks go "do you need a gift receipt"- Nah, I unfailingly quip- This is all for me! (sheepish grin, here). But every trip has a purpose you know, I need to get presents for the birthdays, for the office secret Santa AND a gift or two for those last minute Christmas party invites(Ha! The last time I got one of those was 3 yrs ago, but I stock for this purpose-nonetheless!). And so on and so forth. I think this year I've outdone all my previous years and am pretty close to revamping my entire wardrobe-that which started with a list which said the only thing I needed this season was a set of new gloves and a trench coat! Humble beginnings, modest endings?(Nah, not so much!).

Just yesterday I received a letter from my credit card company saying they just automatically increased my credit line to a very magnanimous amount. They must have noticed the flurry of activity bordering the credit limit. What does the credit card company do? While a wary well-wisher type would've have cautioned one to be thrifty and mindful of overspending, the credit company goes and increases your limit-Hey Christmas only comes once a year!

Yes, the credit card companies can never be a girl's best friend! Now diamonds- hm, after watching Blood Diamond this weekend, not so much either!!

I vote a girl's best friend is really a fairy godmother!

And on this note.........

You've Been Bit By the Shopping Bug!

You're constantly adding to your wardrobe - and it shows However, you can show some restraint. You love good deals. Your love of the clearance rack has paid off... You probably have only maxed out card or two, if at all!

Are You a Shopaholic?

The Druid speaks

The Story of the Pencil

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point, he asked:‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson: ‘I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m
using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.’

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special. ‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’

'That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, will make you a person who is always at peace with
the world.

‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.

‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.

‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.

‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.

'Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be
conscious of that in your every action.’




From PC's 'Like a Flowing river'

Puzzled painting

For some days now I've started on a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Its a puzzle of a painting by one of my favorite artists- Norman Rockwell. To digress, my obsession and fascination for this artist's works began with a piece that my friend Maggi wrote a few years ago, comparing the art work of Rockwell's America to somewhat of a pictorial narration akin to our very own Swami of Malgudi days. What a wonderful comparison and needless to say, so apt as well! His works of simple day-to-day living in America and the sheer humor and wit is endearing as well as touches a chord in many. The depictions are so commonplace that the message pops out effortlessly and in comic simplicity. I have been following art works by CF Payne , usually printed at the back of RD every month who is very often referred to as the Norman Rockwell of our present time. Well for more about Norman Rockwell, as always, wiki has a lot to say.

For some years now, I have accumulated a lot of Norman Rockwell's art works in the form of calendars and poster prints. My all-time favorite is the triple self-portrait. If I had to vote for a masterpiece amongst his works, I'd sure have a very tough time. There are so many that are my absolute favorites. Just this past weekend, I checked out an exhibition of his art works in Baltimore and had a gala time -eyes wide open.

So coming back to the topic of jigsaw puzzles, when I saw this one of one his works some months ago, I swooped on the purchase. But it was shelved till future notice(literally) since I didnt have the guts to start a mega project such as this one. I have put together jigsaw puzzles some years ago- but most of them were under 500 pieces and never one as ambitious as this . It has since seen the light and hopefully be rendered complete(in one piece!) soon enough.

While on the topic, I read someplace that initially jigsaw puzzles were made from wood and since jigsaws were used to cut out the pieces, it was named a jigsaw puzzle.