Randomness! :)

The festive season is on and I am loving it. There is a slight nip in the air, people are smiling, there are kandeels in the balconies and lights put up in every other home. M is traveling and not around for either Diwali or our anniversary. 7th to be precise. That kind of sucks, but other than that it is difficult to mope when there is so much fun in the air. Today Cub and me made small paper lanterns... the ones i am sure most of us have made in school. We hope to make some more and then put them in our balcony as Diwali decor. Cub also made a Toran in school with the help of his teachers. Since we did not have one in any case, we immediately put it up on our door. It quite lovely really.

That said I was just reading this blog post the other day and started to wonder. It is indeed true that we are very kanjoos with our praise and appreciation. How many of us ask for a feedback form, when we get excellent service? Yet, we are the first ones to look for the complaint book when we have even the slightest trouble.

While it is great to expect and demand good service, isn't positive feedback a part of this? I read somewhere that truly successful don't just learn from their failures, but also the success. WE all crave appreciation - from our boss, colleagues, friends and family. Then what makes us forget that other people want it too?

I Love M for this. He is always very respectful in his dealings with folks at every level. We go buy something, he always makes sure he finds out the name of the person and uses it to thank him / her. He shakes hands and smiles without an iota of self consciousnesses or ego. And I have been learning from him.

These days if I enjoy the service at any place, I make sure I get their names. I mention it specifically if feedback form is given. If there is none offered voluntarily (like in retail industry), I ask for it and quickly fill it out mentioning the name of the person who delighted me with their efficiency and practical approach. Trust me, it is not an easy quality to find in lot of places.

It is amazing and saddening at the same time to see their happy and surprised expression. They are just not used to get even a polite thank you on most days. The last time i asked someone else for the name of a sales girl who helped  me find the right churidaar because that girl had gone out for lunch by the time i got to the billing counter. The manager came rushing and his question was "Is there a problem, Ma'am?!" Sigh!

So next time you are happy with some work someone has done for you will you say a heartfelt thank you and then take out two minutes and put it in writing too?

Toh iss Diwali, aap kisse khush karenge?! :)

happy diwali folks! have a great time!

another quick get-away!

and because the photos of this one are so darn cute, I need to get this post done before I get lazy yet again! :)

So it is Thursday night, more like midnight, and then suddenly M comes into the room after finishing his con-calls and asks me the ultimate question "Are you sleeping?!" Errrr...Now I am not! :) We are getting a great deal at Taj Kuteeram for this weekend, should I book it. And we do.

The day we are leaving our live-in nanny Lalita falls sick in the morning and Lalita and illness = PANIC! Anyway, doctor visit done, we waited till she felt better and finally left only a little behind our schedule.

Finally we reach there around lunch hour and kids go crazy.


In a good way!

They see all the open space and it is like a dam has broken. Cub is running all over and Bub is trying to catch up as fast as she can. We go to our room and kids are even more kicked. They love the bed. Bub is rubbing her cheek against the soft linen as often as she could! :) Then we open the back door. Yes! It is one of those cottages. There is beautiful little swing in there and all of us are trying to get a spot on it.

Rest of the day and half of next day goes in lazing around doing pretty much nothing. We watch a magic show arranged, get our hands a little dirty while pretending to work on the potter's wheel making small pots to bring home as souvenirs. Or memories actually.


Kids get to look at ducks swimming in the pond nearby, try avoiding the sprinkler from getting them wet head to toe and just enjoy listening to little birds sing. Cub was more open to climbing trees this time and kept trying his hand at it every now and then. He actually went up to the magician when called up on and told his name clearly which in itself is an awesome improvement. He was being super helpful pushing Bub's stroller all around and playing with her, making sure she does not hurt herself. he is one rock star brother. Touchwood!


Bub on the other hand was just soaking up all the new experiences. It was so much fun seeing her play in the sand, feel little pebbles, then the rough stone and the soft green grass. And she achieve a milestone there! Learned to climb steps! :) Of course she kept giving us the scares by trying to get down head first. Oh well!


Anyhoo, here's the photos that say it so much better than my words can!

Bub and me posing on the swing!

The father and the kids! didn't i say we kept taking turns?!

I just LOVE this photo. For some reason it makes me smile every time i see it!

Bub and me again!

First you pin me down!

Then I will pin you down

Bub obviously does not want to be left out of all the fun!

Because Cub is looking soooooooooo handsome! :)

So this is how sand with little pebbles feels! :)

And crawling on red stones feels like this, eh?! :)

Ze bed in ze room!

Fooling around! :)

He finished that big glass of milk in a jiffy just because he was on a different chair! Kids!

Some TV watching when there is nothing else to do!

:) man! my son is good looking! :)

On the magician's table! :)

Finally and the only family photu! 

Cub waiting for his turn at the wheel!

While Bub watches on. She made use of this time by eating small pebbles and mud around her!

He was giving sermon to the ducks from a height! ;)

Tree huger! :)

day 2 and still crazy about the swing!

Saying our good-byes by posing with the gorgeous wall! :)

One with ze Mumma!

Getting her last feed before leaving on the steps!

which she promptly went up once the eating was done!

And waved Ta-Ta! :)


Ps. It obvious how much Cub was enjoying himself because we rarely had a "no-picture" moment and we got some gorgeous photos of him! :)

Have you checked out this blog, btw? Howlarious to say the least!

http://crappypictures.typepad.com/

Hope you guys are enjoying the festive season! Haffun all of ya!