As usual the novelty of writing slowly disintegrated, what started with lots of enthusiasm and creativity slowly began to overwhelm me, bore me and made me exhausted. Its quite difficult to maintain the tempo of writing when nothing special happens to you. You have to make your own story and also try to make it more entertaining than what it actually was. I really wonder, why people would like to read about you when there was so much more interesting things to be done, read or experienced. But then that what blogging is all about, you would like to write your thought, your feelings, your sense of belonging whatsoever; if not anything I am sure you would like to read about it and maybe re-discover yourself a few years down.
Its now December and you suddenly realise that the year has gone by. What did you actually do? What did happen? What were your dreams, your frustrations, your aspirations, your disappointments? There would be a number of whats, and you could sit down and list them as you go about. Its really at this time, you think back and see that there is a huge gap in your thoughts, the detailing which went in every day now as a memory is very small. Your mind seems to have auto deleted all the files which you have assiduously wanted to capture and kept aside thinking it was important; and then later realised that to save space and new memories you will have to forego the earlier ones. I trust this must be the real reason why people have started writing down their diaries. Well, coming to think of this- this Blog itself was another reason to put down memories which will soon to disappear.
Now lets look at the major highlights of the past year. It all started with the comfort feeling that I am back in Bangalore, having driven down back from Mumbai closing down my stay at Mumbai lock stock and barrel. Pranav's wedding started the year for them with a bang and the family getting together too for the occasion. Then came the conference at Chandigarh, nothing spectacular very staid and very regimental. Chandigarh was city I had not been for almost 32 years. Visiting the Nek Chand's rock garden did evoke a number of memories hidden in recesses when we last visited in the year 1983 with mom and dad. It was during this trip a very significant event began- Amma's deteriorating health. Shyama's call coming in the morning and a feeling of helplessness as I was in Chandigarh, Pramod chettan in Dubai and Prasanth in Saudi - Amma all alone in Trivandrum. Shyama went and supported her and Prasanth also did come down. I too managed to change my booking to Trivandrum and went there. Then the roller coaster ride started with complications after complications and finally ended up with us all in Bangalore trying to resolve the issue with Amma. In April, 10th to be precise, she breathed her last.
Her cremation was completed in Trivandrum and most of the family were there in either body or soul. It was poignant to see her belongings at Kannanmoola. She had a sheltered life when Dad was around and then the last 7 years she was all alone and this she endured with absolute confidence and poise. Pramod Chettan stepped up to the occasion and took over the mantle of being the family's head quite naturally. There were a number of loose ends which he slowly but steadily resolved and clearly sent a message to all concerned about the continuity. By now half the year was over. My regular trips to Mumbai and back continued and kept myself busy.
July 16th was coming in and this would be landmark year for our marriage. It would be the 25th year of our marriage. Shyama and me wanted to do something to register the occasion and we had decided on a European Tour. We planned for a trip lasting about 10 days and covering - France, Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. Finally with a lot of permutation and combination we closed our itinerary covering three countries. Rome was included to keep Vrinda happy, Switzerland was Shyama's dream destination. France fell into the itinerary only because the ticket to Paris and back was most attractive. Detailing this trip needs a separate Blog which I have no intention to write. September was our European tour and soo this excitement was also behind us.
Maman our uncle at Thiruvattar died the next month and I did drop in and paid my last respects. Pramod chettan too had come from Dubai. Winter slowly crept in. But the temperatures never really came down. We had a quick trip to Guruvayur and also made a short trip to Dharmastala and Kukke Subramanya .
In the last week of November i really did feel terribly unfit and then decided to take a vow of abstaining from alcohol and Non vegetarian for a period of time. This look difficult but felt was the need of the hour. This was also the time I felt I should give a strict shot at achieving 70 Kgs or below. This started earnestly and as I am typing this. i can proudly say that I have managed to keep the tempo on and have slowly and steadily lost about 4 kgs.
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