The Voice In My Head…

… unfortunately though, not together

Am off to spend a couple of days aboard the SuperStar Virgo Cruise Ship. It’s a work-cum-holiday trip, though I’m not anticipating too much work, lol

The Cruise covers Singapore, Malaysia (Penang) & Thailand (Phuket) and I’ll also stay back in Singapore for a bit before I return (which should be before mid-March).

May not have internet access at all during this time but will update my travel blog when I’m back.

Meanwhile, you guys have a task! Sherriff tagged me to describe my “Perfect Lover”. Since I’m off, I leave the task to you…

Here’s what you need to do:
(01) Describe what YOU think would be the characteristics of the perfect lover for ME
(02) Tell me WHY you think so!

You will be judged on:
* How well you know me (i.e. how close your answers are to what mine would have been)
* How interesting your answers are (i.e. in case you think of something I wouldn’t )

If you mail me pics of actual (cute!) guys along with (real!) stats, I’ll consider rigging the contest.

Prizes include virtual chocolates from Singapore & virtual pats-on-the-back

I am a ’super Jane Austen fan’ - by this I mean, I have not only read (& own, of course) all of her books several times over but love ‘Pride & Prejudice’ best by far (like most Austen fans do). I know tons of the lines by heart & could quote word for word on most key parts of the book. My sis and I grew up not only reading her books but reciting lines with each other - what pure literary joy!

As a result I was so excited to watch this adaptation - just as I was to see the 1995 Mini Series & Gurinder Chadha’s Bride & Prejudice. I was particularly excited because the movie has gotten rave reviews from most critics in the world & even has been nominated for two Oscars.

Ahh. But sorrows of sorrows, I came back dissapointed. I don’t know if it was that my expectations were too high or whether I just plain unlucky to be with ** person who was completely non-old-English, jabberred throughout the movie (like almost everyone else in the theatre, what the &@#$^ ??? ) and kept asking me to explain what was happening. Damn.

Since this is supposed to be a review though (& not a personal record of my woes) so I’ll try to be as impartial as possible with a list of Dos & Don’ts:

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… asks a Reuters service & now one month old, “feel the news” channel.

Here’s my honest answer to those guys - It was tonight.

7 of us went to “Oh! Calcutta” for dinner. It is a medium sized restaurant tucked away in a very non-descript by-lane of Tardeo (shortly after Crossroads).

Once you reach there of course, it’s a different question. A lovely red & black Calcutta rickshaw greets you at the entrance (I realised later I matched it perfectly!). The inside decor is not overcrowded & resembles an old-world Calcuttian home (complete with slated wooden windows on the walls, mirror backed for the window effect).

It boasts “Authentic Bengali food” and even is said to specially fly the Hilsa fish in from Calcutta (of course this is reflected in the INR 450/- price).

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Cape Gooseberries are now in season in Bombay and my mum who loves CG Jam (just like her mum) decided to make some. I was quite delighted & followed her into the kitchen. Honestly, am very amazed at how ridiculously easy it is to make jam - I would never have imagined!

As always, took lots of pics!

(01) This is the initial fruit - the “Cape Gooseberry” - complete with “Cape” very cute indeed! Step one includes basics like de-caping & washing.

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It’s weird how fast life moves. Just realised yesterday that half of Feb is over. I just don’t know how these things happen, how time creeps up on one. The old year already seems so different, so far away… With all that’s changed - things were so different then - I was a different person. Still I guess this means new dreams & new doors to open.

Ok, enough of that. Update as promised!

Did make it for the wedding Saturday 11th & it turned out to be great fun… Yuni made a beautiful bride & looked very happy & radiant.

The wedding too was fun & I pretty much jived the whole time I was there (with multiple partners, lol). Being an outdoor venue however, the wedding was over before it started. Sigh.

Sunday & Monday, 12-13th was in a conference at the Hyatt. That went off as smooth as butter & everyone was very happy, so much stress relief for me.

Work’s still aplenty but I’ve just been praying & trying to handle one day at a time. The good news is that I’ve preponed my trip to Singapore (without changing return dates!), so that means a little longer holiday for me

Valentines day came & went yesterday (Tues 14th)… was busy at work, so being single in the middle of the mush didn’t upset me too much. Dad bought me a valy cake, he’s really such a doll

Wasn’t sure I’d make it for the late-night premier of ‘Fun with Dick & Jane’, but was glad it happened!

I instinctively knew I was going to like this movie - and I did

It’s a remake of an older movie (titled the same thing) starring Jane Fonda. This movie stars Jim Carrey & Tea Leoni. Initially Cameron Diaz was set to be Jane and I could see her doing a perfect job in the hilarious role.

As it was, Leoni was brilliant! Very different from her serious Jurrasic Park look. I think she’s great in comedy & should do more. As for Mr. Carrey! He finely balances the slapstick comedy that made him famous in ‘Ace Ventura’ with an actual get-in-the-role performance and it was excellent.

About the movie itself - the plot was simple & yet not as far fetched as I thought it was when I read the one line review before I went: “About an everyday couple who take to robbing”

The plot is pretty realistic on the whole, and actually makes their choice to get into robbery a valid one! Towards the end it does get a bit over the top but it still had the whole theatre in splits. Plenty of laugh out loud moments the entire film and I’m sure no one will go away unhappy.

My review: Go have fun with Dick and Jane!

It’s been a hard week and I, I’ve been workin’ like a dog…

Ok, not particularly like that dog

Back to work - I can’t (and shouldn’t!) complain because almost everyone I know is drowning in work too. This week it was not so much the quantities than the stress involved that kinda got to me… The rat race in Bbay city pretty much turns pyts of age 25 into greying, stressed & worn out coats.

God is good though - so as I said, no complaints from me.

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Maybe it’s that I’m becoming older - or maybe it’s all just getting to me. Whatever it is, 3 parties on a day is just more than I can take. And the fact that they were evenly distributed all over Bbay did not help. Sigh.

The day started off with baby Zay’s Christening.

His father Nel’s been a close friend of mine for almost 10 years now & it was so great to see him so happy! Zay of course is an angel and looked perfectly content (and was fast asleep) despite the huge crowd & loud noise - & the terrible joke-cracking-mc.

Next was Yuni’s Bridal Shower, to be precise, a Kitchen Shower (have attached links for those not familiar with showers). It was also a surprise & it went perfectly - Yuni was completely surprised.

Ended the day with another party. Was looking great (why be modest, this is my online diary right ??) and feeling tres sexy - in essence, I really enjoyed myself. That is, except for all the mangi aunties, one of whom came to see if I was married to my cousin!!! (why is it that you can’t sit down next to someone & have a convo, without people concocting various theories??)

Two of the pyts at the last party (not me!)

The ever growing ‘retailing & franchising culture’ in Mumbai city has seen n number of cafes, pizza places, beauty salons, to name a few categories, spring up on every corner of almost every street you turn.

The book selling industry wasn’t left in the lurch with the popular ‘Crossword’ chain which already consists of twenty-eight stores across almost 10 states of the country and is still expanding.

Amidst all this big-business, off a road known mainly for the multitudes of international banks in the busy Fort area, is the Strand Book Stall. The place was founded in 1948 and was named so because it started, quite literally, as a stall in the old Strand Cinema in Colaba.

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Don’t worry, I didn’t know what it meant either. Found out, it was just Ana & Geh being Ana & Geh (!!) and abbreviating a ‘Girl’s Night Out‘

We started off the evening by going to Oxford Bookstore - not because we wanted to buy books (there would be plently of time later on for that) - but because we wanted to eat chocolate (what’s a girl’s night out without pigging on chocolate???) at the Cha Bar (inside Oxford) which has recently reopened.

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