My magical trip to Bombay

I went to Kidzania with my cousins Dharshini, Raghav and avini.kidzania is a place where you get to make children like an adult. This is the picture of me and Darshini pretending to be an artist.we also were a cook, DFCL and we also worked in a fire department. My cousin raghav earned his liscenc last time he went and my cousin darshini flew an aeroplane last time she went.

Allepey - Thatha's 70th

Allepey : I will forego my usual rant about my parent -I refer to the one who created this blog in the first place, who take unholy glee in ignoring periodic updates. Come on, it is 2016 now and tha last blog was in 2014. That's a whole two years.. A black hole in time, where history ( and myself) will be ignorant of my travails -er travels..Pun intended folks.
This is about Allepey - we went there to celebrate Thatha's 70th birthday and that too - on a house boat. Appa smoothly  lied about the cost -since Thatha would'nt budge if he knew what we spent. Maybe they teach you all the smooth stuff as a grown up. Hmm would'nt want any part of that. But hhey, the houseboat was amazing. I got to drive the boat myself in the open back waters and haha - Sharu was deemed too small to sit next to me. Bliss - sheer bliss. Sharu, your history will not include driving a houseboat in Appa's backwaters.

Sharu of course finagled a deal and sat with me. The boat was not in the open sea and here;s a beeautiful picture Appa took- a church on the shore and it was very pretty and melanchily to look at - if that's possible. We cut a nice cake - Appa went of shore -he normally goes onsite but in this case he did go off shore to get a nice big creamy cake for Thatha and
this is how we felt after the yummy cake..



Then was the temple visit to Vaikom Shiva was good and you can see the pics right below and when thatha did the honours.
We just could'nt wait to lay our hands on that cake.  When we came back , before boarding the train Amma and Sharu had a rakshas dosa.
SHaru, valiantly trying to get her way through. Here's Amma in a deeply contemplative mood - I strongly suspect this was brought on by - if only we could continue to live this way....and we all went back with great memories of swaying palms, rocking boats, super food and a nice outing.    All in all, A Class and thumbs for Amma for arranging this great trip,                                                                                   

A couple of great photos of palms, a house in the middle of the river.

                                                                                                            

The fine arts, Hong Kong and then some...

Guys, This is lethargic stuff - my previous post was a year ago.. I had loads to share -- but you do know how the wheels of parental machinery churn.. I just cant wait to start writing on my own - but I understand it could take quite some time to get there. I can just now read not the usual cat, mat, rat stuff but whole sentences, so some basic addition and i GOT A WHOOPING REPORT CARD at school for my PP-II. You see it right up there.. literally and figuratively speaking..
Maya had come down in 2013--for her summer holidays and here we are .. wearing traditional Mallu stufff for Onam..

Drawing is a big hobby of mine. I goto drawing classes now - my mom or dad drop me there for an hour once every week. I am getting good at shading things and here's a sample painting that I have entered for a Kerala Govt competition. My version of a fruit bowl-- we branded it appropriately as Vishu Kani before shooting off the entry - positioning always helps..

I learnt Bharatanatyam for some months before the teacher had enough of it I guess and stopped coming. Went on stage for the dance school - shiva kalalaya's annual fete and here's a video of my stuff. Dance enthusiasts of course, will appreciate the subtler nuances in this rendition. But on second thoughts, the school is kind of protective about the BANI and I  think I will just share a photo of my pre performance along with my coartists. Interested parties can apply to this mail id and I can share a you tube link.

I am sure Sharanya's update will come in sooner than later and let me do a quick Snowden.. and share about my first trip abroad - We went to Hong Kong for a 4 day holiday - the greatest attraction was of course Disney

Here's another one at Aqua World - we saw an amazing Dolphion show and wide variety of sea lions, seals, penguins and what not...I will leave SHARANYA TO share the details in her subseequent post but I believe I have given a broad brush overview of 2013-14... Time does'nt fly.. it zooms..Ciao

I am 4 Now

Hoo Girls & Boys .. I am 4 now and just going to PP2- That;s kindergarden in the US and UKG in India. Life's good and I really have to put on record that my dad is doing a singularly bad job of keeping the general public updated about my progress.. Need to check on Sharanys;s blog though -- I am sure people find time to keep that updated .... Come on ......After all, who does the world need to know about ???? Nepotism rearing it;s ugly head -- ??  Anyway guys here's the stuff. my party photos Amma made very one of the dishes you see down there at home. A unique party- when compared to all the burgers and pepsis in all the parties I go to. Yummy cup, cake choco cakes, smileys and noodles. Appa of course did his bst to scuttle the party by coming late from office and it was a Saturday - can you imagine. He did his bit by tying balloons around the place -- but between you and me -- I would'nt call it a great job.

Here 's me with my friends cutting the cake. Hahah Sharanya looked a little like the Green Monster -- hooo eat you heart out Baby. It is my time to crow....But come on Sharanya, you have your b'day coming up in April after all --I'll tell Amma to do her best --but remember  I get the first piece of the cake with the cherry and 2 new dresses for your birthday as well. Deal ???/

The astute reader no doubt must have divined that there is an ongoing tug of war between us. But the truth is that though we fight, we love each other and have fun - we are especially great when it comes to gheraoing dad to take us out to the Hotel . .

Here;s Manasa and me -- my best frenemy... We fight all the time and of course patch up on the fly too.  She studies in the same school as I do and lives on the same floor-- of course, you get the connection.       Well, last but not the least I have a hobby now  - mummy would say the terminology is debatable but anyway - I dont think Picasso & Vincent Gogh  can hold a candle to my stuff. For your perusal, I am attaching some of my stuff here                       

 So see ya folks - stay strong , stay healthy.. AS my dad says RUN... EAT A TON.. THIS IS NOT SAID IN PUN.......

At School

Hi Folks,

So it's been a month or so since I joined school @ Arsha Vidya Mandir - PP1 is the name of my class.
It took me some time to get comfortable and Amma stayed with me at School for more than a month
but I guess now I am good to go.. Anyways infinitesimal change is always what works - for the changer and the changed...I do have a favorite at school - my ayyahamma with whom I spend most of the day - I do visit the teachers now and then just to check on them -- just waiting to get off the Primary Track and do something worthwhile -like laze around. Amma says it is a long journey to becoming a doctor like her.
Well, the proof is in the  pudding as it goes and here's a video of me reciting Baa Baa..

Well, here's me off to school on Krishna Jayanthi - wanted to go as Krishna bot looks like rules are rules - all girls go as Radha --really weird why girls have to take the role of ardent devotee all the time.

Haha Sharanya also goes school - it is part of Appa's strategy to make me go to school seamlessly - but it hardly works and he thinks he has me fooled with  the whole drama. Here's Sharanya with her school back -- ( nothing inside - I checked) ostentatiously decked up to go to a fictitious school.It is used to be Tiny Tots before but now it has changed to A School and Amma has also borrowed Neha's old uniform to make the farce sem that much more authentic.hoo boy.. I know that she goes out before me and Thaha brings her back the moment I enter the lift :) But I am keeping mum - we dont want Appa thinking his tactics are'nt working --Hmm so much to do - Here's my jig during the Independence Day celebrations that went on in my flat along with my best frenemy - Nethra. We did have a ball that day dancing through out the evening.

So to make a long story short, folks I am going to school, managing Appa & Amma - and Sharanya to boot..Life's great --but kinda tough...:) 

Life with Sharanya

Folks --I am getting adjusted to life with Sharanya -- sorta laying out ground rules, roles and responsibilities you know... not easy dealing with some one whose inevitable response is to stick her thumb in to her mouth for every point I raise with her.. juvenile is the word that comes to Mind. The things that I go through .. man.. I go to First SCHOOL - Nursery and am enjoying it-- I do hope the school reciprocates my feeling. I do have my own doubts when my teacher sees me in the morning -- "Here comes trouble" is what is written in BOLD all over her face. Amma tells me that Sharanya goes to a fictitious school called "Tiny tots" after I leave -- what rot !! As if I don;t know that she stays behind sleeping off the morning.. But I let amma believe that she has me fooled -- good and proper. Here's a video of a game that Amma, Sharanya and me play... For some reason, this train always starts at Chennai and stops at Coimbatore.. .. Nothing like the rustic to rejuvenate you eh amma?Before Amma blows up , let me move on and state that I am highly musically inclined and play Ramesh Chithapapa's mouth organ on a daily basis. All of a sudden, There is a huge demand for cotton buds but I call that professional jealousy..You can check out the videos here. For you gang of ardent admirers, I donot mind dishing out a free album now and then.-- collector;s item -- nothing less..worth it's KB in gold an' all that...

2 Years Later.....

Hi All I am back After a long hiatus, and if I had nothing to say in the last year, nothing much happened either.I am currently at CBE at Vasanth thatha's place - scaring the heebie - jeebies out of Sharanya - my little sister who was born last month. Hoo boy I mean girl... is she small.....I have a pretty full life nowa days - going up to Geetha pati's place for sweets every alternate hour,yoodling with Sharanya, sleeping in her mosquito net, using her bath chair and generally making people go crazy... I am happy bcos Amma plays a lot with me now - something she could 'nt before Sharanya was born.

I try teaching Sharanya my rhymes and games though I do not see the light of comprehension on her face. Haha..Guess she really needs to pick up. As of now all she can do is cry and feed.. maybe punch the air a couple a times. Imagine being so puny...Anyways I plan to take care of her as well as I can .. if I have the time that is... I have enrolled into a new playschool at Chennai - First sCHOOL--I believe it's called and I am planning to give this school and my teacher all attention from June 27th on wards.You can check out my Marudhani stuff in the first photo and my new protege in the second....Until we meet again.. Amicalement

I 'll meet you once I go

Play Park 2, The Broom and Things

See Saw - Hee Haw
Slide Ride Swing Bing

Hi Folks, I am devoting a section exclusively to my growing expertise at the play park. What the

heck I can even climb the slide the other way--swing, make mud pies, and do the see - saw. I do come back home black like a chimney sweep much to the despair of amma - my primary cleaner and the unholy glee of my appa - my comrade in arms at getting coated with the grimy stuff.

You can see me swinging those chains off the hinges here. This is my favorite past time - at any time of the day, I might add. I generally go the park at 5:00 pm and am back by 6:00 for my nap. I have picked up a new skill now adays and am creating lotsa consternation to Ambika -- our house help. Check this out for yourself.

Zoo Zoo goes to the ZOO

Folks, It was my first visit to the zoo and I guess the animals really enjoyed the day more than we did. They were sitting snug in their caves or lying on water troughs while we braved the 40 degree sun and walked the whole length of the Vandaloor zoo twice. Whoo was it hot out there.

We started out with a nice lion safari that went into a Jurassic park like enclosure and it was thrilling to see lions on both sides of the bus. Though Amma and i were very scared, Appa took care of us and very bravely snapped a couple of photographs as well. The lions seemed to obey his every command and modelled for him. Well Well Well !!! Brave Dad ....


After the safari, we went back to the zoo where we saw birds, giraffes, elephants, ostriches,reindeer, a hippo, storks and a monkey family to boot.I had great fun watching all the animals frolicking and had lunch. Then we moved on -- (trudged would be apt) until we reached the car and could switch on the AC. We drove down to A2b and we all had lunch. I loved the play area there and would'nt get off my high horse. haha

My First Birthday

Friends, Yucky Grown ups and Fellow Toddlers,

I am more than a year old now and had a couple of family gatherings to substantiate it.

The first function was homam at Anjenaya temple and here I am all set with amma and appa to visit Mr Hanuman. It was a batch processing initiative with around 20 others including a couple of thathas expressing their happiness at having mushroomed on this earth "this day - that age" Just like the Hindu eh??.Amma, appa,2 thathhtas,2 pattis ,Karthik mama, Sangeetha mami, Anu athai, Maya and Darshini were the important dignataries who graced the function and of course mahself as they say in Texas.

We came back and had a good lunch at the Flamenco just opposite and we all thoroughly enjoyed gorging ourselves -- Maya ate an exceptional lunch and declared her patriotic fervor in the Indian cause.

The afternoon was spent in blissful sleep while, appa, amma and mama slaved to get hot pooris and the decorations ready. The main contribution was appa's who got the entire hall bedizened with colour paper, hanging lights and balloons. Even more phenomenal was the way he had planned the event and got Karthik mama to do some work as well.

The party was a gala event, the cake an absolute beauty - a MINIE cake as in Mickey, Minnie and lots of yummy stuff on the table -- all AMMA made.The kids had a whale of a time playing passing the parcel , dirty dancing and generally horsing around , the best part being that it was all done by appa and amma, not by event managers from outside. Thanks youse all for a great party. Wish I could have a party like this every month but I understand there is a small cost factor involved.... Sigh..... Wish my dad was a millionaire..er billionaire. Well I am scooting now for my afternoon sojourn with the diwan. Ciaooooooo wait for my next post

Back after a Long Hiatus

Folks, It's awesome to be back in this forum and crowing about myself. I have not been too active on the communication side since my biographer - dad was a bit too busy. It seems he has to work for a salary -- funny ehh? I have tons of things to share with you- I have a tooth, can sit up now,crawl, slide up and down the divan, scream my lungs out,twist Thatha's nose till he screams for mercy and just about make anybody's life miserable. You can actually see my tooth if you look at it hard enough. Most people I know have felt the issue more strongly than you can suppose.
Well, my bite is worse than my bark I suppose...)). I have a picture of Amma and myself as well -- a rare picture I might say where both of us are smiling..)).

Dad's first Birthday

Hi people, Dad celebrated his first birthday... with me that is .. last week end.
There was a lot of yummy stuff on the table that I could smell but not see too well from my carry cot though I did get a peep now and then.

But nothing so exotic for me...As they say , Paavum Infantum Lactum.(.. (roughly translates into "Milk for the poor baby" in Latin).
Anyway Dad enjoyed his day working through a plethora of dishes or so it seemed to me.
I wore a new frock given by Anu Athai which was all the more pertinent as it was in yellow representing the CSK. It was the next day that the dam broke and I started getting a stream of visitors of all shapes and sizes.( fyi They had all come in for Aishu's wedding). It was fun seeing them but irritating the way they kept pinching my cheeks to get me to smile. I decided to give in as the mob seemed really determined and gave a huge lopsided grin after which they left me in peace ( and in 1 piece I might add).