The Geese Fall Silent

We will get a new metro
Maybe in years two or three
Meanwhile they have taken
Away all the geese
Soon they will come down
To cut all the trees
But even before that
Oh where are all the deers?
Only the birds still come
And sing a few songs of cheer
Making me come out
Once in a while to peer
But will I ever get to see
Another new bird, dear?
Sigh, we should be happy
About the new metro that will be here.

Had posted before: The Silence of the Geese

Power Struggle

The people may have given a clear verdict in the elections, but they are still the losers. There is no power in the state!

On any day, between 11 and 4, none of the traffic signals seem to be working, even on main roads and important junctions.

On some pretext, there is going to four hour power cut during the day, staggered into one hour each. Though it was shelved indefinitely, since yesterday, it is going to be two hours - one hour each, twice in a day. Today, 9-5 maintenance.

Well, well, AC all the rooms, or even put air conditioners, build skycapers and have multiple lifts. Where is the power to keep them going?

Inverters and generators, you say? Well sir, petrol and diesel don't grow on trees exactly.

Back to dark ages soon? Aah, we won't need the time machine at all! Isn't that comforting?

Getting Used to the Luxury; Turtle Walk

The Regal Look - Wasted

Peeping out to see how many saw his humiliation

Five white tigers in an enclosure. Standing at a safe distance, we were still awed by the majesty and the beauty of the regal animals. One walked down the slope to the ditch dug around the enclosure, next to the ditch, separating the humans from the carnovores.

We stood admiring each when we heard the gates of the cage being opened and shut from the rear of the enclosure. Food time, we realised.

A man came out to the outer wall on the rear and called out harshly, "Po (go)!" All the tigers looked. One of them instantly sat up. Another glared at him regally. He threw a stick at it to get it moving. He shouted again and again to get them to pick up their food. Slowly one went in, another followed. The stubborn ones were egged by the man to get moving.

Even the most stubborn one finally got up, went in, had its fill and came out. It was a sad sight.

But, I couldn't help wondering - is this what is happening in Tihar jail right now? The one with the power is the one outside, making those inside dance to his (her) tunes?

The Kind Lord; Hobson's Choice; Animal Farm

One Earth: The In-Built System

One Earth: The In-Built System: "A trip to the zoo yesterday was very fulfilling. For one, we seemed to have gone at the right time - when all the animals were out in their ..."

Change of Plans, sigh!

It's very tiresome, this need to constantly adjust one's thoughts and plans. I finally decided that I should give in to temptation, not resist the strong urge and become size zero. I worked out the plan, the exercise regime, the diet - albeit reluctantly, and, Bingo, I am told all this is not needed anymore!

Times Life tells me that I don't really have to. Unable to keep me out of the ramp any longer for want of the requisite size, they have now changed the criterion and want "real women" - basically, plus sizes, on stage.

What took them so long to realise this? Couldn't they have done this earlier?

What do I do with the plans, now? Maybe too late by the time the size zero comes back in fashion!

Meeravin Mudal Prayatnam: Vandalur Uyiriyal Poonga - Oru Anubavam

Meeravin Mudal Prayatnam: Vandalur Uyiriyal Poonga - Oru Anubavam: "பல அனுபவங்கள் என்றே சொல்லலாம். இன்று, பல வருடங்களுக்கு பிறகு என் குழந்தைகளுடனும் கணவனுடனும் வண்டலூர் உயிரியல் பூங்காவுக்கு சென்றேன். சில உண்..."

A Trip to The Zoo

The "hot" favourite cooling itself off

A plan abandoned demanded that a better plan replace it.

We had thought of attending a car rally, and skipped breakfast, decided to have brunch so that food was out of the way. But then we decided that it seemed pointless going all the way to see probably only the start of the rally.

But by then the children were getting ready, and it seemed cruel to not take them everywhere. Our guilt was more than their disappointment, but well, it was an excuse for us to go out together after a long while.

I have always wondered why we end up going to closed up spaces like malls for diversion. And yet, all I could think of was the Fun City in Express Avenue. But my hubby had a better plan - the Zoo. A trip that would be of interest to all of us.

Amazing that my 7 and 5 year old children managed to walk all the way. They were tired, they cribbed, they cried, they tripped - can I blame them. The entire thing took up five hours in peak afternoon, with very few stalls in between for refreshments. And yet, they completed the circuit.

In fact, my son amazed me when, towards the end, he suddenly had a burst of energy as we approached the section with crocodiles. Is that his favourite animal? I wonder. He ran ahead, announced the names after checking with us, and was generally in high spirits. He wanted very eagerly to see a rhino, which seemed missing in the zoo here. But a hippo, and a pygmy hippo that responded to his call by looking up while ignoring the others, more than made his day.

My daughter followed and the two were as if they had just entered the zoo.

Ending the day with ice creams sort of made up for all the hard work. Especially when, on returning, their father let them both play on the computer for half an hour, and then TV, she said "This is my best day!"

I agree, it was the best day in a long time.

Also read: Keeping a Promise, Leisurely Journey