The lovely Death Train

This time death train came with more members. The death train comes often in my dreams and boy, I love it when it chugs into the platform strangely called Life and pulls away leaving behind a cloud of memories and tears. My heart gets heavy like lead and I can actually feel that lump in my throat. 

The old members hadnt grown old but with all their lovely heart, they sympathased with the new members. Especially my cousin who passed away unexpectadly at the age of 51. His mom is still alive. His late dad and his dad's mom shed tears for his mom who would be amongst the living dead. My dad was there too, looking at me with his benevolent eyes, at arms length - me who is never a hugger, ran to him and hugged. He pushed me out of the train.

My aunts and uncles were there too - lovely smile playing in their lips, they asked me about my mom and my sister. I saw different generations there in that coach. Even that uncle who was dust-allergic and dust-phobic was dusting the seats with this towel improvised as a duster. His wife, my favourite aunt, was getting  irritated at his dusting-away and it showed. Their banter based on dusting episodes such as this were always a great source of humour for me and my sister. The new entrant to the band was my eldest aunt, who passed away a month back. She was busy narrating stories that her two sisters, two brothers and her parents missed. She was always a great story-teller and I could see that hadnt changed a bit. Oh, yes I also saw my darling Sandy - our first pet who choked on her food one day and made it to heaven. She was curled beneath my dad's feet.

I tried hard to get an entry and was pushed by everyone with a loving reprimand.  The train chugged away and I was still in the platform, waiting for its sighting again, another night, in my dreams.

Sigh, I miss them all...like crazy

Nine planets temple trip - fourth and the final day

Day 4. Dec 27 2014 Saturday

We decided to go to some important temples near our hotel before calling it a day as we had to get back to Coimbatore today.

We had Breakfast at Aryas at 9 and then proceeded to Papanasam, where we did pradikshanam to the 108 shivalingam, before proceeding to Adhi Kumbeshwarar temple. Such incredibly well preserved strong temples.

Hari dropped us back to the Kumbakonam railway station from where we boarded the dirty Jan Shatabdi Express to Coimbatore. But then we are all together, discomforts don’t matter much. We reached Coimbatore at around 10pm.

Getting a taxi from Coimbatore station for a group of 7 who want to travel together is pretty tough. So we took two Omni cars to reach  our destination.

Selfie (with my cow)

Anne Mary is a farmer in Masbury, Somerset.

As rains lashed the small town, with slivers of lightening and deafening claps of thunderstorms, she was worried about her herd of 240 cows who could be hit by the lightening. 

So when she checked on them and found them to safe and sound, she took a moment for a small celebration, which was to take a selfie with one of her cows.

Clintons become grandparents

The proud grandparents shared he picture of their first grandchild, Charlotte. 

Indeed a great moment when you hold the grand tot's nimble fingers. 

Encounters of a different kind

I was taking note of his replies to my queries when I heard him ask: how do you spell .....( a name)
I was writing but gave him the right spelling to the name.
Silence followed.
'Did I ask you, you bossy old lady'
I looked up and saw Jeffery Archer looking at me with mock anger.
He then advised me ( I had asked for his honest advice on what I should do to pursue my passion, which was writing. Quit my current job and concentrate on writing or what or what or what??????)
Quit. He said.
'Quit your job if you are so passionate about writing and if that is indeed what you love. Writing is a full time job - you cannot be working 9 to 5 and then write as well. Better still, find a part time writing job. That should be a good start. '

FAQ about MH 17

There are many questions looming large in the minds of the people about the unthinkable tragedy of MH 17. Occult theories, conspiracies and blame games apart, these are some points that everyone wants an explanation for. While some queries are answerable even by a layperson,there are some questions that demands and rightly so, a response from an authoritative yet credible quarter:

Who fired the missile
If widespread reports, coming from reliable quarters are to be believed, the pro-Russian group fired the missile. Pro-Russian group? what are you talking about?  Click here and know more. Separatists and what they want?
Why did the pilot fly at 32,000 and not 35,000
If reports are to be believed, due to traffic congestion, the pilot was asked to fly at an altitude of 32K even though he asked for clearance for 35K. :more on this here
Which country do these people that fired the missile belong to?
They all (almost all of the Western Media and Ukraine)say they are Russian -  Pro-Russian separatists to be specific.
Who are accountable for their action?
Going by the first link, it is easy for you to know that.
Why can't the people responsible and accountable take any action?
Are you joking??? On a more serious note, this is THE question that is asked in different tones and voices by the UN, US, UK, Ukraine, many other nations and the relatives of the passengers in the doomed flight. We are all waiting:(
What did they gain by shooting down the plane?
A mistake happened. The moment Russian rebels realize they shot a civilian aircraft by mistake
Will they ever find the person who did this? and the one ordered this to be done?
The entire world is waiting. But then, like someone (very well-known and important, sad I don't remember), during war the first casualty is the truth.

Earthy delights: LA glowing

Earthy delights: LA glowing: Loved this image of Los Angeles, shining and shimmering as the night grows younger....

LA glowing

Loved this image of Los Angeles, shining and shimmering as the night grows younger....