I keep meaning to write and when I finally sit down to do so…I see it’s been 3 weeks since I last did! I could apologise but I’ve been busy having good times 😛 I mean…one has to occaisonally go about and do happy blog-worthy stuff no? 😉 Lets see…last I posted was just before we left for Goa for Junior’s spring break. What followed were four glorious days of fun and frolic with friends and family 🙂 Break was longer but I had carefully choreographed the visit so it sou;don’t exceed my tolerance threshold! Make of that what you will 😛 but if you’re anything like me and/or know me well, you’ll understand why I can only manage short bursts of joy in Mom’s home! Believe me it’s better that way for the both of us 😉
Back home in Bangalore and we still had a weekend before school re-opened, so we visited the Banerghatta Biological Park and took a safari. There’s also a zoo which we avoided on advise from most friends who said it was totally avoidable. The safari was great fun though, and although the animals are in a controlled environment, it’s nonetheless exciting to spot a lion, a bear and a tiger…lolling around and sleeping off the dry summer heat 🙂 Junior was beside himself with joy and I’m always happy to get that perfect shot. In June, we are off to Kabini – to visit the Nagarhole National Park. I’m super excited at the thought and am crossing every part of my body and mind in the hopes of seeing a tiger in the wild!! I’ve heard one once in the Kaziranga National Park and the sound still gives me gooseflesh in the best possible way.
This last weekend Junior turned 6 🙂 He still isn’t bothered about parties and so we did a cake-cutting in school, the day before and spent his Birthday morning visiting Martins Farm and playing with the farm animals there; while in the evening we saw Aladdin – a musical play where we met several of his classmates and they all had a ball running around in the manner of headless chickens 😉 😛 I think they all enjoyed the goofing around more than the play! You know how little boys can get! And while I was looking for books as return gifts, I discovered Tullika. I’d heard of Tullika of course – an Indian Publishing house that does fabulous children’s books but didn’t know that they also offer special Birthday packages! Ordering the books was a piece of cake thanks to the prompt and extremely helpful Aneesha 🙂 I picked my books and sent them a list and sat back and relaxed. They sent me the books wrapped in gorgeous wrapping paper that matched the book covers complete with printed Thank You cards!! They even sent Junior a free book as a Birthday gift. Truly awesome service Tullika!!! Thank-You once again, especially to Aneesha who co-ordinated with me 😀 Cannot recommend them enough!
Add to all of the above, planning a trip to Ooty on the 17th of this month, my ongoing Photography challenge and reading East of Eden…and you know I’ve been a busy bee! Well that brings us unto today…the first day in a long time that my mind feels peaceful enough for a return to a routine. Hubby’s Birthday is coming up on Friday, but since no gifts are to be given nor expected – it’s all cool 😉 😛 And so to Mr. Monkton…It seems only fitting that I should dedicate this week’s post to Junior – who brings me more joy than I imagined possible and more hope that I believed existed. He makes all sadness bearable and all happiness happier 🙂 And there are times when I look at him and wonder what it is in me that deserved him…whatever it is…I treasure it and I treasure him ❤ :* Now enough with the sappiness and lets get to it!
Happy Monday People 😀
Never miss a chance to dance in the rain!
H is for Happiness 
Haye…how organized and convenient!! Tullika sounds great and they should pay you a commission for great publicity! 😉 Caivalya has grown tall hasn’t he?! Sounds like he had a smashing 6th birthday!
Great post, now I feel properly informed as to the goings-on in your life 🙂 Ooty sounds promising…
Truly M!! They were saviours 😛 I’m always thinking of stuff at the last minute with not enough time to see it through and they just managed everything beautifully 🙂 I was chilling out in Goa when the books were delivered in Bangalore!
He has! He enjoyed! I’m so thankful that he’s not into parties and gifts! He was thrilled to visit the animals…I’m so glad we started watching Natgeo when he was just a baby 🙂
I’m looking forward to Ooty…hill station and we’ve booked a resort away from the crowded, commercial city! But it’s Kabini that sets sets my pulse racing!!
Wish I was going with you! Last I went was in ’79 😛 (makes me feel so cool and ancient to say that!)
That makes me feel ancient too! And cool…that too 😛 I really wish we could go on a Holiday together M…once Junior is older…we should swing it 😀
Awwww – your sappiness taps into my own and I love it 🙂
I love your zoo cat photos, but I think I love the wrapping paper on those books even more. And that shot of Junior with the lollipop is terrific. He looks like he’s going through a growth spurt 🙂
I totally get what you mean about tolerating the lovely visits to family. We do the same! About 5 days is just the right amount. I still yearn for more time, but if we spend it, we wish we hadn’t 😉
Finally digging in in a serious manner to Neal Stephenson’s “Anathem.” Plan on picking up East of Eden shortly thereafter. Could be a while; Anathem’s a loooooong book and the weather is finally conspiring to dragging me out without all the layers 🙂 🙂
Thanks Heather! Isn’t it just gorgeous?!! The wrapping paper I mean…it was ❤ at first sight 😉 And you've said it so well…I yearn too but have learnt to overcome for the sanity of all concerned 😉 I think that's the best time to leave no? When both sides want more 😉
I just finished East of Eden a few days ago and loved it. Then I happened to read reviews (never bother with them before I pick a book :P) and found one which was so harsh and rather disrespectful (imo), that for a while I wondered whether we'd read the same book! I'm so glad I didn't read it before reading the book because it was written so convincingly, I almost forgot why I enjoyed the book! I'd forgotten how many people tend to take the written word literally 😛 This is my first Steinbeck and I would want to read more…just not at the moment! He writes of the Depression era and I'm not in the mood for more of that at the moment! So have started my first Inspector Lynley mystery by Elizabeth George 🙂 Another crime series to sink my teeth into!