We are thinking of applying for my son’s passport under ‘Tatkaal’ scheme. My husband got the passport form and asked me to fill it in my free time ( which I rarely get). I filled all the columns and put the form in the drawer of the tv stand. My mother has the most annoying habit of shifting things from one place to another and putting them where she deems fit. She misplaced the form and then forgot where she had put it.Ultimately my four years old daughter found it in one of granny’s purses.
My mother is sixty two. She is a diabetic and for the past few months, suffering from osteoporosis. Her bones have become weak and she feels stiffness and pain in her limbs all the time. Most of the time she is depressed. This should have been the golden phase of her life, when she was free from all the worries, the in-laws, job, children’s future etc. But she is spending most of her time in agonizing about her ill health. She rues the fact that earlier the relatives used to envy her good health. I had advised her to take best diet pills to control her weight.
When I met my mother this time, I thought there are no gurantees. You can’t predict future. I never enjoy present, always worry about future. But do I know what the future holds for me? I curb many small wishes which I can easily fulfil, just to save some money for the future. But what use that money will be if I am in no condition to enjoy it?
The lesson I learned from watching my mother is that you should enjoy your life while you still can.
I am eagerly waiting for my sister and her sons to visit us. There has been a slight change of plan. Earlier she had to come with our mother as mom is a bit hesitant to travel alone. My father is a busy man. He is a surgeon and has many other administrative responsibilities as well. He hadn’t made any plans to visit us, but my husband and brother persuaded him to get some time off his schedule. So now mom and dad are coming in Last week of May and sis and her kids will be coming in mid June. I have already bought many things for the children including rubber stamps, anatomy kit, wooden clock puzzle etc. I am on the look out for more unique toys which are not easily available in India.
You may well have wondered about my absence for the last few days. I was not away and neither was I extremely busy ( except for the days when friends came over to stay with us from London and Swindon). I was here only, in the virtual world, exploring the e bay shops. Even after having lived in UK for three years on and off, I am still not able to make myself spend money on things I want to buy. I am always converting the value of the desired item from Pound into rupees and thus making it difficult for myself to purchase it. Carboot sale is a good option to buy routine things, but you generally don’t get good and new gift items there. For bargain gift items like beauty products, secondhand charity shops are best. They stock branded items in proper packaging and at reduced price.
My mother, sister and her kids are planning to come from India to visit us. I want to collect as many gifts as possible before they arrive. I have two months to do my shopping, so I won’t feel the pinch that much. I have been checking e bay for good bargains and definitely found some gems. I search through Argos, ELC and other sites for gift ideas and then make a comparison with the prices on these or similar products on ebay. The ebay products are chepare, even after paying for postage.
My mother loves gardening. She always wanted to have a big garden where she could grow flowers and vegetables. She got her wish granted only after we moved to official residence quarter that my father got as a senior surgeon. Earlier we used live in a house built by our grand father. It didn’t have any patch of land where one could grow anything. My mother used to buy flower pots, much to the indignation of my grand parents. My grand parents thought it a wastage of money. Mom got to spend money on things she liked, only after my grandfather handed over the finances to her, as he had become forgetful.
Now she has a full fledged garden with aluminum fence installation, and a professional helping hand comes once a week. My daughter and sister’s sons love smashing the flowers she has so lovingly grown, but she never minds it. For her, the love of children is more important than flowers which will wilt anyways. Ironical?
I am a 32 year old Indian woman who spends most of the time in Europe. I thought that I liked to travel, but now I am not so sure. I have been to Switzerland, France, England, Scotland and Spain. I have a little daughter whom I dot on (all mothers do, nothing new). I fear that my overbearing attitude is turning her into a timid and fearful person. I am a recluse and don’t like to interact with people. Internet is my hiding place. I am most comfortable and at ease when I am writing in my blogs. One day I want to quit my job and turn to full time blogging (oh! The ultimate dream of all introverts).
