A special wish.

Its your birthday, Honey --

So for 24 hours I ll let you be right!

Happy Birthday! :)

I am doing OK. OK?

To whomsoever it may concern.

Please stop asking me how I spend the two LONG hours when Ashu is at school and I have nowhere to go. I park the car at school, walk to this little place near by and read a book with my ipod on. That's what I do and I quite enjoy it. Its the only time I get for myself and I'm with what I like the most - books and music. 2 hours just fly by and before I can finish the short story or my favorite song ends, its time to go pick up Ashu. And some days, Hd drops her while I go to pick her up. Once in 2 weeks, theres a mommies lunch thing and its fun to talk to moms from different countries and get to know them.

I like it that its bitterly cold outside and I'm sitting inside a heated room with a book. I was reading Love and Longing in Mumbai by Vikram Chandra and though I have nt understood one story so far, I love reading it. I would have given up on the book if not for this "me" time. I also realized that Karthik has sung the Nenthukitten song from Star amazingly well and Im in love with his voice. Once this song ends, I stop my ipod for a minute and hear Karthiks voice still lingering in my ears! Ah!

And friends have been "Oh! Poor you!" ing me when I tell them what I do and I hate it. Save the "poor you" when Im in my death bed , will you? I mean what more can I ask for? If the school was nearer and I came home after dropping her, I would be washing dishes, for Gods sake! How is that any better? And its still uncertain how long our stay in Swiss will be. So got to take one day at a time and cant think of moving nearer to the school for now. (A "poor you" now is welcome! I hate these uncertainties!)

I don't take the car and paint the town red because I am saving that for later after I get my Swiss driving license and get a little more confident. I am not going for long walks (for God knows I need the exercise) because its freezing out here. I have plans to do some volunteer work at school but only from the next term. Any other questions?

What (they think) we want!

Thanks to Dot Mom, I got fodder for my blog today. Here's my take on the What Women Want tag.

1.How do you feel after a one night stand?
It depends on whether it was with George Clooney or not.

2. Do you ever get used to wearing a thong?
If it will lead to a one night stand with Clooney then I can get used to it!

3. Does it hurt?
Will let you know after the one night stand with the said person.

4. Do you know when you are acting crazy?
I have never been on a one night stand.

5. Does size really matter?
On women, No. On men, Yes!

6. When the bill comes are you still a feminist?
I am never a feminist. Now go and cook me dinner! Scoot!

7. Why do you take so long to get ready?
In the remote chance that tonight might be the night with Clooney!

8. Do you watch porn, too?
No if you are my dad!

9. Will something from Tiffany's solve everything?
If you even have to ask this question, then you need many more list of questions before you understand us.

10. Are guys as big of a mystery to you as you are to us?
Not since I saw that episode on Sloths in Animal Planet.

11. Why do you sometimes think you look fat?
Its a trick question to find out if you think I'm fat.

12. Why are you always late?
Trying to give you a hint. Not working, apparently!

13. Does it bother you when we scratch?
Forget the scratching! Your very existence bothers us, OK? And if you really want to know more about women, hire a WOMAN to ask the right Q's! Jeez!

14. Do you wish you could pee standing up?
Yes. Every time I see the toilet seat up!

15. Why do so many women cut their hair short as soon as they get married?
Its symbolic to let you know that we are going to lose our hair anyway answering your stupid Q's.

16. How often do you think about sex?
As often as you do. But only to come up with good excuses other than "I ve got a headache".

17. What do you think of women who sleep with guys on the first date?
Forgivable if it was Clooney.

18. Would you?
Clooney seems to be the answer to all your Q's, mate!

19. Do you realize every guy wants a girl just like his mom?
I ll try to gently remind you of that fact the next time you are begging for some action!

20. Why does every woman think she can change him?
Because you would do anything to get some action and we like to use our power on something constructive.

21. Does it matter what car I drive?
Yes it does if it matters to you how I drive!

22. Do you ever fart?
Not since I became a mother. Its always the kid!

There. All clear? Do you understand us better now? I thought not!

Now to the tagging part. Utbt, DDMom and Manchus, if you guys want to.

Diwali Bakshanams, Weekend Party and a Movie.

Whats Diwali if you are not in India? Hence no posts from me. Especially since Ashu had celebrated her first 2 Diwalis in India, this year was all the more disappointing. Hd had bought few dresses for her from London and that was it. And oh, my lame attempt to make Diwali Bakshanams. Since I was planning to make Gulab Jamuns for the party in the weekend, I decided to make Thirati Paal. That came out OK actually. Then my mom had to ask me what savoury Im making and insisted that I have to deep fry something in oil for Diwali. I should have stuck to Papads. But no, I thought Maida biscuits and Banana biscuits would be the easiest. So saw recipes, made the dough and just before rolling out, remembered that I do NOT have a rolling pin. I forgot to bring it from India and never got around to buying here. What self respecting house wife would nt have a chapathi kuzhavi, you ask? Say Hello to your friendly neighborhood blogger - Me! I could nt believe I could be this stupid! Then wondered what to do and started rummaging the kitchen draws and shelves to look gor a rolling pin look alike. Nothing! Then stumbled on a pair of wooden chop sticks that Hd had flicked from a Chinese restaurant. and yes, ladies and gentlemen, I used a chopstick to roll out the dough and though the banana biscuits were so-so, the maida biscuits turned out to be yummy! My wrist is still hurting though, with all the chop stick rolling! (Have you finished laughing yet?) My mom would be proud of me, so laugh all you want!

The office party on Saturday was fun though. Loads of food, my jamun, pasta and curd rice was appreciated. A friend did a small puppet show for the kids, another friend brought sparklers which was lit in the balcony. It was close to -5* C with terrible wind chill and it was quite an experience. The four kids all below the age of 4, were nt intimidated though. Between them, they emptied half a dozen packets of sparklers! By 9.30, the kids went to sleep one by one and we 12 adults played 3 card poker and gambled. I play cards but do not gamble except with close family and that too a meagre Rs.1 or Rs.2 bets, that's all. So this 1 Franc and 2 Franc bets put me off. I decided to team up with Hd instead and blame him if he lost any money. But luck was on "our" side and "we" won loads of money in the first few rounds and then "Hd" lost most of the money as "we" did nt want our friends money anyway! ;) But we played for hours until 1.00 am and I had so much fun after a long, long time!

Could nt sleep long on Sunday as we had a 11 am show to catch. Om Shanthi Om! Hd and Ashu stayed home while I joined 3 of my friends to watch the movie. The movie was nt great but then with us 4 gals, any movie would have been fun. We were just goofing around and laughing aloud sharing our own private jokes! I had read Nehas review of the movie before I watched it and was wondering how badly they would have spoofed the Tamil movie shot. But got to be honest, I laughed the hardest for that scene and every time SRK said, "Rascal aa! Mind it!", I was rolling on the floor and I had tears in my eyes. I dont know why that silly scene cracked me up so much. It was hilarious! I liked Main Hoon Na except the dragging climax. OSO was as good as MHN or as bad as MHN, if you did nt like it.

The school saga begins again...

After the previous fiasco, I was glad we were going to India and taking a break from the school heart break. Ashu of course had a fabulous time in India and whenever the word school was mentioned, she said NO. My dad promised her she never has to set foot in a school if she does nt want to. (To his credit, he said the same to me when I was a kid!) When we came back to Zurich in mid September, I started looking for a School. The day care she went to earlier is nt much for 2 1/2 year olds and both my friends have taken their children out of there and put them in English schools. So Ashu wont even have a familiar friend there. And the peer pressure got me as well. After looking high and low for an English school which was nt in the other end of the city from where we live, we did nt have much choice. And the English schools are ridiculously expensive too. So it took a month for us to visit the schools, get the info and decide on one. This pre school has a special programme for kids between the age of 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 in the afternoon. 1pm to 3 pm is an odd time for school and its Ashus nap time as well. But I wanted to stop her afternoon naps and liked the fact that I dont have to get up early in the morning to hurry her up to school! (Always the selfish me!) This school is a bit far too, 20 mins drive. And I don't know what Im going to do the 2 hours she is gone. But anyway, what has to be done has to be done, right?

Ashu first day was on Nov 1st. Hd and I were with her for 10 minutes and left the room. She started screaming and crying "Amma, Come! Amma come!" We both sat in the car in the parking lot and wondered why it has to be so tough for us. Then we saw the class coming out to the garden and playing in the slide and swing. One of the teachers was carrying Ashu and whenever the teacher attempted to put Ashu down, she started crying. She did nt want to go in the slide or the swing. Hd and I left after spying for 10 more mins. At 3 pm, we went in and I was all ready for an ear piercing scream and the whole world going deaf! But, yes there is a BUT, she saw me, said Hi Amma and bye to her teacher and walked with me to the car! Thank You God! The teacher said she slept for a while, got up and started playing. Ok! Thats Day 1.

Day 2 was predictable. She said No school and started crying while I was getting her dressed at home. "I will stay at home Amma, I will stay with you Amma", she was repeating. I packed her and plonked her in the car and she slept before we got to the school. Hd and I woke her up, gave her to the teacher and ran away. She was crying but the parent who went to drop off her kid after 5 minutes told us that Ashu has stopped crying and is playing. Relief. 2 hours later, she said bye to the teacher and gave me a hug and came home without a whimper. Thats Day 2.

Day 3 was yesterday after the weekend. Hd left for London for a couple of days. So for the first time, I had to drive without him in the passenger seat and it was scary. I remembered most of the Kandha Shashti Kavasam even though it has been decades since I recited the Shloka! I reached the school safely. Though Ashu was crying, she readily went to her teacher and said a teary bye to me. I decided to visit my friend who lives in the same area. Took a bus to her place. 2 hours later, came to pick up Ashu and she was all smiles and proudly showed the library book she had checked out by herself. Came back safe and sound. (I worry more about the what do I do if I get lost more than what if I hit another car. So some experience should take care of that fear.)

Day 4 was today. With Hd being out of town, Ashu and I had a relaxing morning and after lunch, I dressed her up and when I asked her to go and wear her shoes, she did nt protest. She happily climbed into the car. I drove the car with crossed fingers! Thankfully, she did nt fall asleep today so she was all bright when we got to the school. She went in and said a big hai to Miss M and then she said "BYE AMMA"! Not a whimper! Yippee! When I went to pick her up, the class was just coming in from the play area. Ashu gave me the warm Hi Amma and showed her dirty boots to me as it has been slightly raining outside! (While driving back home, got stuck in a tunnel in a slow moving traffic for 45 minutes and then saw the accident scene which was the cause of the traffic jam. One of the cars involved was crashed heavily. Do I need this when I am driving alone with Ashu for the first time? I ll take back what I said before. Getting lost is better than getting hit!)

I was really worried the first day and thought that it will be weeks before she settled down. I was telling Hd how Brat, Ayaan, Anushka, Ddidi, Chula and now Kodi have all settled down in school like THAT and how this is only happening to me because of the grave things I did in my past life! Hd gave me a dirty look and asked me to shut up. I agree now that I deserved it.

Some of the things that have helped the smooth transition -

Ashu is old enough to understand bribes and blackmails!

This school is better than the previous day care. She has activities to look forward to.

Theres a big play area and they take the kids out come rain or shine, snow or wind. Ashu likes that.

Theres a nice library and thats Ashus idea of heaven. Yesterday, she came home with a book which she had selected and checked out herself. ("The Best Party of them all" by Hiawyn Oram and Lucy Su)

Miss M is ultra nice. I think Ashu is in love with her and thats the reason she settled in pretty quick.

1 to 3 pm is an odd time but since she goes after a proper lunch with full stomach, shes less cranky.

Inspired by Utbt, Im copying her style of update. This was how Ashus first day was.

What was playing in the car?

The Pre K nursery rhymes CD. Usually, its the Sivaji songs which blast from the speakers. But I decided to make it special for Ashu!

What was Ashu wearing?

Blue jeans from my Sis, Dora t shirt specially bought for the first day, white sneakers and a pink plastic band on her curls. Oh and a backpack. She took her ABC book, a pencil, a wind up toy butterfly and her broken sun glass in the backpack. Needless to say, she packed the bag herself!

What was she most excited about?

The big play area in the school and her backpack with the said contents.

What did she eat for lunch?

Rasam Rice with carrot and a cup of Yogurt. Possibly, the she will eat the same before her first day to college as well. I ll bet my last penny on that!

What was in her snack box?

Biscuits and a carton of Apple Juice. (She finished one biscuit and the apple juice and told me that Sam had eaten a banana and she wanted a banana to take to school too. Idhukku onnum kurachal illai!)

Where is she schooling? Why this school?

We live in Zurich. We have no other option! (Ok, not many!)

How is Ashu taking to School?

Go to the beginning of the post please.

The day before first day of school.

She was very excited about the "Park school"! She said she ll go to school happily, she ll have fun, she wont cry, etc... I totally believed her.

The one thing that was more difficult than picking out the school itself.

The school supplies. We were given a long list of items like Rain boots, rain gear, snow boots, snow pants, cap, scarf, some over all jacket thingy,... I have nt bought anything other than the rain boots yet. (Dora boots! It was either this or Princess, ok? So don't judge me, Utbt!)

What I found most disturbing?

That people have a problem with Dumbledore being gay. Oh you mean with the school? Nothing! ;)

Today just before climbing out of the car Ashu said, "You wait in the car. Ok Amma?"
I promise, my little darling. I will. Always.