55er or something like that - day 7

They wanted him to be just like them.

He tried. But it just wasn't like him to indulge in these activities for the sake of ‘tradition’.

They said he died because they wouldn't accept him.

Actually they told him that he was dead to them.

“Good riddance!” he said to himself with a scintillating smile.

Today's prompt - They said he died because they wouldn't accept him.

And so 'A week of 55ers ends! Sob sniff! Much fun was had doing something I had never done and out of my comfort zone. I am thinking of collating all of them in one post! Just for fun and ease of reading! :)

55er or something like that - Day 6

There was silence for a while. The other woman in the room did not know what to expect.

She had been seeing her regularly, visiting her actually.

Today was the judgment day.

“So, Doctor?”

She could sense the doctor looking deep into her eyes as she said “I think we can get your sight back!”

Today's prompt - She looked deep in to her eyes...

Ps: Just one more day to go! :D

55er or something like that - day 4

Shock and disbelief! Divorce papers? All of a sudden. Out of the blue as they say.

Mental trauma and anguish? Irreconcilable differences? 

Why?

He believed that their first year of marriage could not have been better.

Just last week, for their first wedding anniversary, he even gifted her a top of the line weighing machine!

Today's prompt: Weighing Machine

55-er or something like that - 3

They had been dating for a while but still hadn't stolen their first kiss. She realized that if she waited for the shy guy, she may have to wait forever.

                                                                        

“Shall we kiss?” was her ultimate hormonal proposition. They did and it was all teeth and noses!

The tender kiss will have to wait. Sigh!

Ps: I never realized that there might be people out there who don't know what a 55er is! Yes, I can be thick like that. In a nutshell, it is a work of fiction done in no more or no less than 55 words. Fun! For this week we are using prompt words. The first one was love, the second just as I was leaving and today's is 'tender kiss.'

If you want to know more, here's a link!

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-55-Fiction

55-er or something like that - 2

There had been silence in the room since he had accused her of infidelity. Of cheating him and their love.

He had ranted, raved and pointed fingers while all she kept saying was ‘But I am telling you the truth, there IS no other man!’

Just as he was leaving she whispered, ‘It’s another woman.’



The previous one is here!

55-er or some such attempt! :)

The day before their wedding, their eyes met as they sat amidst a room full of people.

She felt a shiver run down her spine.

She hoped it was love. She did.

And yet, what if…?

Almost  ten years later, she can safely say her hopes never let her down.

Amen. Touchwood. Antijinx. Kala Teeka.

The Pratham Experience!

I have been a BIG fan of Pratham Books since the first time Starry Eyed gifted Cub a couple of them - The Monsoon Concert being one of them. I have a whole lot of them at home and Cub loves them as much. I also keep a stock for gifting and gave them as return gifts for Cub's birthday last year.

Last year, a couple of friends had done book reading for them on World Literacy Day and it sounded like a fun thing to do. So, when the chance came up again this year, I jumped at it... okay I was little hesitant, but I really wanted to do it So off went a mail to folks at Pratham and got an enthusiastic response from Maya, one of their team members. Soon, I had in my hands an envelope that had the book they had picked for this years reading (Susheela's Kolam), a couple of more books and a banner saying "Pratham Books Champion". Need I say, I was super excited.

the story telling starts! :)


M and me thought it would be best to do the reading in colony itself which is full of kids around Cub's age. We shot out a mail and kept it open for kids ideally aged between 4 - 7 years. Of course younger and older children were welcome. Around a dozen parents responded that they would send their kids over and we were set.

Kids also getting warmed up!



The D-day arrived and I would be kidding if I say, there were no butterflies! :) The kids arrived on time and some mothers stayed around too. I decided to start with one of our favourite Pratham Stories - The Annual haircut Day - a hilarious story about Sringeri Srinivas who cuts his hair only once a year. The kids responded to the narration and fun elements in the story and by now I was quite comfortable with this whole story telling business! :)

The picture always makes me smile! :)

I am also lot more at ease now! :)


Once the kids were in the groove, I started with Susheela's Kolam - a story about a little girl who loves drawing Kolams everywhere and how she gets them in sky! It was a short story and the kids were mighty excited answering questions about where else could she draw kolams. Since Kolam means rangoli and it also involved aerial acrobatics done by the Air Force, after the story was done, we showed the kids a video of an Aero-show - coloured smoke and all! :)

Watching the aerobatics video! 


Once that was done, two of the mothers did a Rangoli demo for the kids - one with stencil and another the join the dots variety. The kids filled colour in those and tried their hand at using stencils. The messing around done, kids got in and coloured printed rangoli designs with crayons. I loved seeing how beautifully they all coloured and with so much enthusiasm.

The talented l.adies! I cannot draw three dots in a line even. So, these women were my lifesavers! :)

The kids adding colour!

Cub looking at his stencil Rangoli!



Before we knew it, the time was up. Kids took their coloured sheets back home (some asked for extras to go home and colour). The mothers thanked us for an hour plus well spent. And me, I was happy to do something new and different from the usual. It was so much fun seeing kids have a good time and participating enthusiastically in every activity.

Sincerely colouring their paper rangolis! :)

Showing off finished work!

Here are a couple of video links of the story telling;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2yUuHXlWwU&feature=context-gfa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9hTiU286yY&feature=relmfu


Thank you Pratham Books for giving me this opportunity! May your tribe grow! :)

Ps: there are a whole lot of interesting things happening in Bangalore this Saturday, 13th Oct.

A story telling by Geeta Ramanujam with Tulika (An evening with your Myths) at Aata Galata, Koramangala. 4pm onwards. See this https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362220400529068&set=a.279171128833996.66834.274368322647610&type=1&theater


Our very own Arthi Anand is doing story telling at Orion Mall at the same time. The picks are ever popular The Mixed-up Chameleon by Eric Carle and few other stories. Art is an awesome story teller, so go! https://www.facebook.com/events/119266278224920/


The Flea Market arranged by the Second to None group on Facebook called Shanivara Santhe happens till 7pm at Fraser Town this time. You can find all the details here - https://www.facebook.com/events/108467272642070/


And there there is the Gourmet Bazaar at Olive Beach which has some of cities best bakers and chefs selling best of their wares between 11am - 4pm. You can find the details here https://www.facebook.com/events/283053198471079/


I seriously wish I could make copies of myself and go everywhere! Sigh!

the much awaited HAL museum darshan! :)

So, we finally made it to the HAL aerospace museum in Bangalore this weekend. It had been on our wishlist for the longest time and some how the plan would never pan out. This Saturday, M made sure we got ready and were out before the museum shuts its door to visitors.


It is a gorgeous place. Large open spaces, green and friendly folks around. The airplane models are mostly in open space around the buildings and are easily accessible for one to have a good look. The basic information about them is mentioned on the boards next to the aircraft.


The buildings have different engines and miniature models of some planes. It also has a lovely installation of a pilot having used the eject seat and come down with the help of a parachute. There is a flight simulator as well which is a little lame, but kids love it nonetheless. The souvenir shop has a supremely smooth talking sales guy and you will rarely walk out without making a purchase. The shop has lovely models as well as toy airplanes and helicopters in different sizes and prices.


The bathrooms too are thankfully clean. Only thing missing is a decent cafeteria / canteen. There is a small one, but all it sells is chips and soft drinks. I wish they would at least stock some sandwiches etc. But then again on a weekend the place hardly saw any crowd, so maybe it does not make sense for them to keep stuff that will go bad quick.


There is a little water body with an even smaller bridge going over it and different kinds of fish swimming by. Bub was supremely excited about seeing real "Feesh"! :) So was Cub actually, though he might have been more happy about the little bridge!



Folks in Bengaluru - GO! GO! GO! :) 


Here's a peek;

Cub and me posing at the entrance! :)

Ze Papa and the Ze Bacchas!

Cub posing with the fighter jets and such! :)

While Cub is listening to all the gyaan being shared by M...

The Bub is quite happy picking up twigs from one side and throwing them over the hedge to the other side! :)

The little bridge with not so little boy! :)

The seating area to have your khaana is clean and comfy. One could carry a picnic and chill even! :)

This photu is only here because a little girl came in and squealed "Look Mamma! A PINK helicopter! :p

and while Cub was deciding on which plane to buy Bub was happily making funny faces and having a ball! :)