Thats a wrap up!!

Another year gone....

Love lost,
Love found.
Memories made,
Dreams broken.
Aspirations achieved,
Hindrances crossed.
Lives lost,
Friends gained.
Desires heightened,
Hopes continued.
Madness prevailed,
Abilities acquired.
Passions soared,
Affection gained.

........and....and after all this where is the breather? No breaks... no time outs... it just goes on and on. The mad circle..!!

The new year is but a few hours away.
Pessimists will say one year less of their lives, optimists will say another year to look forward to. And I am not sure which category I fall under.
Lost a year of my life but there was so much to gain as well...and then as I raise my head with doubt and uncertainty at what lays ahead -

Return to university for the last six months.
Graduation....
My first niece/nephew,
A (long overdue) trip to India.
(Possible) wedding..... :)
Entry into the Corporate world again.
Back in the rat race.
.....and so much more that will be unexpected!!

Someone once said, "Calenders are for careful people, not passionate ones!"

And so I shall wake up tomorrow.....a new day just like any other. And go about my business, for what is life if we knew what the next minute was going to bring to our doorstep!

Prayers from the heart.........

for those that have died
for those that are injured/sick
for those who are left in ruins

God Bless.

Just made it!!!

Today I bumped into a blog by Anita Bora and found this interesting post about the end of year and hence the time for introspection!

The questions were thought provoking so I could not help myself -
Here are the questions: My answers

1. Your ‘high’ moment of the year. - It will have to be the news that I was going to be 'Maasi'. My sis is having her 1st baby and it is due any day now.
2. Your ‘low’ moment of the year. - Thats the day I cancelled my tickets for my trip to USA and India.
3. Faux pas/greatest regret. - Don't think so!
4. Something that got you 'almost famous' and nearly catapulted you into the Hall of Fame. - My 'jewellery designing' hobby! I have made many earrings, bracelets and chockers for my gf's at work this month. And many wore them for the 'End of Year' party.
5. The 3 things you wanted to do the most this year, and did! - Showing my creative side to the world (most of my world!) with jewellery designing, Growing my hair till my waist...(almost!), Moved into a bigger apartment so I can get my own room and my own cupboard!!! (silly?! oh no!!)
6. The 3 things you wanted to do the most this year, and couldn’t/didn’t! - Didn't visit India, Didn't visit USA, Didn't get married! :D
7. Number of resolutions you made for 2004. And how many you actually stuck to. - I don't think I made any coz I never keep to them!
8. The list of cities/ places/ countries you visited in 2004. - Great Ocean Road - VIC, Sydney - NSW
9. Your movie of the year award goes to... - Lord of the Rings Trilogy ??!
10. A friend lost? A friend found? A friend made? - Found = few old school friends on orkut, a friend here in Aus. I had a catfight with! Made = many since I started orkutting and blogging.
11. You will remember 2004 as the year of … - "FrenCo" = Friendship n Communications
12. The 3 things you really want to do in 2005. - Make my 1st trip to the Dentist (of my life! yes!!), Learn swimming and scooba dive in the Great Barrier Reef - QLD, Learn skiing and ski in the slopes of Mt.Ruapehu - New Zealand.
13. A set of 13 words that will be your keywords for 2005! - I can, I will, I must, He can, He will, They will, Om!

Too Easy!!

OK... now those to pass by ... do take a few moments (if you can!) and answer these too. Leave a link to your blog (if you do fill the questionaire!) in the comments...I would love to know you have to say.

The movies, the copy-cat and then the sequel.

Movies are strange... you watch one and love it. Then watch it again a few days later and think..What??! But then there are others that you like no matter how many times you have seen them.

I got 'Meet the Parents' and 'Anger Management' for Suraj. Both I still think are great movies.. make you laugh no matter how many times you watch 'em!

But then we saw 'Mujhse shaadi karogi'!! And I was yelling 'copycats'!!! It is so frustrating. That you spend 3 hours and they give you a movie with Indian actors... gaana bajaana and all the same scenes and even same dialogues!! Disgusting!!!
What do they think... these movie writers and producers. That Indian people dont watch any Hollywood movies.. that they are stupid and that these fools can get away with stupid copied plots and scenes. I reckon that some one should do something about them. Like don't watch copycats movies.. let them flop! Then they will get the message.

But anyways.. We went to see Swades on the 25th. But due to Christmas the cinemas where they have it were closed. So we went to Crown which was open and saw Meet the Fockers. Its the sequel to 'Meet the Parents'. And unlike so many sequels... this one is good. Actually funny.. quite seperate from the 1st movie.. and good.

Looks like Hollywood people know what they are doing!

I just found out that....

I AM 33% INTERNET ADDICT! I could go either way. Deep into the madness of nights filled with coding CGI-Scripts and online role playing games, or I could become a normal user. Good luck! Take the INTERNET ADDICT test at Fuali.com

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BTW... Wishing every one a very Merry Christmas. Hope those in the colder places get a white Christmas. I just hope that it dosen't heat up too much or my city tour for Suraj will get postponed! But.. hey... holidays are till Wednesday and then 2 days work and then hols again! Yiiippppeeeeeee!!! :D

Can't wait to run out of my office!!!

This is a quick one...

I have been reading quite a few blogs lately about guys complaining how they can't find their lady! And as I was surfing some blogs I found this very good blog from a guy who just recently got married (So, it probably proves his tips will work!).

It is a very very interesting blog and might come handy to some of you. And very aptly it is called "Dating for Dummies: How to get that first date" (No I am not openning a marriage consultancy services..or any thing. and Yes, I am committed to someone!)

I'm just playing the concerned friend to a very sweet buddy of mine. ENJOY!

Brothers.... cant live with 'em cant live without 'em.

After six months of "He's coming.", "He'll be here next week" etc. etc Finally Suraj is here!!!!!!!!

Yes..!! Suraj came on Saturday. And I was totally surprised!! Shocked really ... but happy shock! (if there is such a thing ;) )

The whole plan had been kept in wraps by Jeffrey and Suraj to give me a big surprise..! Even Mum and Papa would laugh on the phone..."Nupur, its a surprise."

I'm like, "What do you mean 'Its a surprise!' Will he stand at the airport and call me and say 'Hey! I'm here come and pick me up!!!'

Papa said, "No I was thinking more like... he would ring your door bell and say 'Hey I'm here!!'"
And everyone was just laughing as I was getting irritated!! Ridiculous isn't it ?!

Anyways, Jeff made quite an elaborate scheme to divert all of my suspicions. He even went all the way to his office on Saturday (an hour transit!) to mail from his work email that he was at work so I wouldn't think much of a tip about Suraj's arrival that I was got from Dad earlier in the week.

So when I was returning home... out of nowhere.. Suraj popped out of a car and yelled "Behen!!" :O I was shocked!!
We hugged...then we cried... we wiped each others tears.. and then I scolded him for the stupid surprise.... he just said "Good surprise...naa??"
A very dramatic scene in deed. (I have snaps to prove it!!)

Since then... all the rellies have been calling from India, "Suraj is in Australia", "How is Australia!" Its like... I was never here... or rather if I am, 'bid deal!' Now Suraj is there and he's getting all the calls, and everyone wants to know how he is doing..! And me??!

But then... my 'lil kid bro, first time so far away from family. Its his moment of glory. How he has come here against all odds. And I'm just so happy to see him. Pinched 'him' so many times on the weekend and said "Hey! You are really here! " *hehe

So as long as he helps me in the kitchen (washing dishes ofcourse!) and does his bed and keeps his stuff organised and my house tidy! We will get along pretty well....

A letter to a boy written by a girl, the only one of it's kind!

Dear highly intellectual opinionated boy with killer hair and awesome eyes,

I need to lay my feelings out on a table for you and let you choose what you want to do with them. My heart is yours for the taking. Just beware it has been bruised and broken over the years and I just finally put all the pieces back together again. My lips are yours to kiss and my soul is yours to explore.

The girl you have seen on a daily basis for over a year is not the true girl that I am. Over the past 3 years I have tried keeping guys at bay so as to not be hurt again. To me men were the enemy but within you I see the sweet intellectual man I have been looking for. I feel as though you are someone who does not judge harshly and would have an incredible listening heart. I feel as though your shoulder would be a resting place for my tears and they'd quickly disappear with you. I feel as though your ears will listen to what I have to say and your eyes would tell me all will be alright. Your words would be sweet and gentle and truthful.

Even if I can not have you as my own I am still glad I have met a man like you so I know they exist. You are the first man in 3 years that I have truly fallen for on all these different levels. Your soul shines something special about you and I would love to explore your soul more and have longer talks with you.

If you really took the time to look you would see a different girl inside of me.

You would find a girl who had her innocence stolen and has dealt with it for 3 years with help from only few people. You would find a girl fighting hard to become the girl she once was and is slowly becomming that girl again. You would find a trooper who does not let anyone keep her down. You would find the dreamer in me that sees a world of harmony possible. You would see I am a girl who doesn't give up on something only because it may be hard to pertain. When I want something and I think it is worth fighting for I will go after it.

You should feel special that after 3 years of fighting myself and the inner deamons my heart is truly set on you. I believe you are a person who could set me free again.

I have had a lot of milestone accomplishments lately. The girl you knew last year was not me at all.

I think you need to take a jump with me and see where we land.

Sincerely Me

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Found it on the net and thought its worth publishing.
What do you reckon?!

Just incase --- If you loved Ocean's Eleven....

and are looking forward to seeing Ocean's twelve.......

Don't - you will be dissapointed!!!!
(I was!)

Kris Kringle...!!

This is my 5th year at the Hyatt. And like a lot of amazing/wierd/sometimes spooky stuff that goes around in the work place, one custom that I always looked forward to in the festive season is "Kris Kringle".

Also known as Secret Santa by many... its a nutty process of giving gifts to work mates without them knowing who the "Secret Santa" is!! Names are randomly drawn out of a box and you bring a gift for the name in the slip you draw...as simple as that. And to be fair... (on the pocket).. there's usually a price limit, like $10 or $15.
I always thought it was pretty amazing...rather sweet actually that people would take pains to find what (affordable) thing their work mates like and then surprise them with it..on the staff party..etc.

Unfortunately...I never got involved in Kris Kringle for the last 4 years.. as I was in Banquets.. and because the department is huge with almost 70 staff at any given time, it was very hard to get so many people to pick names and absolutely impossible chase each of them down to bring the gifts.

So this year is my first official 'Kris Kringle'. Which I am very much looking forward to.

And while I get excited as each day brings the party day closer, I cant help but think about other unfortunate/homeless people who will never know what its like to enjoy the festive season.. the excitement of parties and gifts..etc. For them there's no Christmas, no New Year, no Diwali, no Id. :(
So this year.. apart from the secret Kris Kringle gift, I thought I should also donate something to the needy. And I have thus decided to donate a gift in a parcel which we are collecting at work (as well) to be given out to homeless children living in shelters on Christmas eve. Just a little something for someone. It is hopefully going to be a big parcel and we will have enough gifts for all the children.
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God Bless!!

They want it... I have it!

I have always envied girls who can wear just about any thing and everything in their ears because I could not. I am one of those unfortunate ones who have to stick to gold or else... bandage cuts and bruises and sore ear lobes for days!!

Not fair!!!!

That is why when I was coming to Oz I had a huge discussion with my mum about safe keeping of valuables before she let me come with my favourite 'stud'! And again unfortunate for me... because its fairly expensive I could not be careless with it.
So, I found myself 4 years later, still wearing that exact same stud!! Every where.... movies, dinners, parties, bbqs.... every where!

Once I wailed to one of my friends here is Oz ...about my sheer bad luck. She said, "Hey you can wear the dangly hanging stuff cant you?!"
I said, "I dont know."
She said, "Yeah, because it hardly touches the lobes so no infection".
I was grinning from ear to ear.
The next day I spent 3hrs. at 'Accesorize' touching and feeling all the gorgeous ear rings etc.

Since then I have taken classes to learn how to make my own jewellery, and have designed many chandelier earings! With crystals, beads, pearls etc. Late into the nights -- To my hearts content!!
Got many compliments, and the friend who had told me that I could wear earrings even suggested that I should probably start a little side business for myself.
(She didn't know what a chicken I can be when it comes to things like that!)

Seven months later..and I still keep all my tools and my little cystal kits under my bed, only to pride at it on lazy evenings.

Then! Day before yesterday! Out of the blue! A (Nepalese) friend at work caught me in the corridors and told me that she was exhibiting things that her fiance sold in his shop. All beaded jewellery etc. from India and Nepal. She had seen me wear my stuff and she forced me to bring some things to display in her booth.

Believe me...I complained much about how my work wasn't that great and how it was only a personal hobby and was not a business thing. But then I brought my things and they were displayed. Only one earring was sold!!
You cannot imagine my dissapointment. I knew I had not expected them all to clear out.. but ONE!

An hour before I was to go home, I went to the canteen for a drink and these 2 girls from Sales and Marketing caught me. They had loved one of my designs but wished it were available in a different color to match their dress for the Christmas Staff Party next week.
I said, "Oh why not! I can make then for you, any color you like!!"

Oh! Unbeleivable... before I went home I had 15 orders!! From girls from all departments, Front Office, HR, Sales etc.
Amazing isn't it?!

My luck!
This weekend I am headed to the Beads and Buttons Galore to buy all the raw materials to fulfil the orders....I am surely going to be busy making those now.. till late.. way way late into the night.
:D

Land Down Under!!

My fifth year in Australia.. it was about time I went to see Sydney (atleast!).
----------
Yes, Thats what I said.. fifth year..can you imagine! Anyways, last week was my birthday and I thought the weekend following it was just a good time as any. So I packed my bags and flew to the Harbour city for two days.

{my cake.jpg}:)

~~My weekend escape!~~
It was beautiful, the weather was not too warm and not too chilly. No rain.. (thank God) just mellow and nice for the two days... Well.. all in all your typical big city where I did all the "touristy stuff" like I took snaps of the Opera house from probably every angle possible!!!!

{sydney_opera.jpg}{harbour_bridge.jpg}

@#@#$!@$%# I have tried for half an hour and I can't figure out this Bloggerbot thing to get my pictures up!!!! $%$#$@

:((

What that...

After a week of haggling, whining and nagging which movie did I go to?
"National Treasure" !

It was actually my own decision in the end, because I surfed the web for the reviews of the movie and NT sounded very interesting. So, I made a plan with another girlfriend Sarah to go see 'Veer Zaara' this coming weekend instead.

So Saturday arvo was NT day! and well...a bit of action mixed with a seasoning of humor with a dash of a couple of thrilling scenes with a side of popcorn and coke is good enough for me anyday!! *giggle*

Then Sunday was to be "meet some long-lost friends"day. So we came to the city and then were to go to their place and instead to my (hidden) delight I was literally dragged to the Hoyts to see "Veer Zaara"!!!
I complained that I don't want to see it yet coz I have plans with my other girlfriend, but my cries fell on deaf ears and the bucket of popcorn was shoved in my hands.

And when the movie was over and everyone came out...I looked at the faces and said, "Now! Was that painless or what...??!"

How will a girl live without watching a "Chick Flick" once in a while?!

So many days have gone by.. weeks actually.. no! probably months and I haven't seen a single 'romantic-comedy' kind of movie.
I wanted to see "Shall we dance", "Bridget Jones - Edge of .." etc. etc. But (sigh!) I have missed them all.... And a hindi movie in the cinemas.. forget it!!

Who made the "Majority Rules!" rule in the first place??
Seriously, if I ever find that guy(/gal) I'm gonna have a lot to say!!

So, this week I tried a new scheme.
Mon: I said, 'I want to see - Veer Zaara in the cinema'.
Reply - Ok.

Tues: Will we go and see VZ in on Sat/Sun?!
Reply - we'll see.

Wed: VZ has had great reviews, I'm so looking forward to the movie on the weekend!
Reply - (silence!)

Thurs: Oh! only 2 days till the weekend! (humming a tune!)
Reply - Yeah.. oh also "National Treasure" released this week.

Fri: I'll check the times for VZ online. Should we also buy the tickets online itself..you know just in case?
Reply - Oh! btw which cinemas in NT up in? Check the times, no?

Sat: 10AM
I said, VZ is on at 4:20 or 8:20, which one?
Reply - Do you really want to see that movie?
(Hello!!)
I said, "Ya... what have I been talking about?"
(So much for my scheme!)
Reply - Oh you know, 3hrs.. and what is the name again 'Weear zehrah' ?!
I said, Veer is the guy - Zaara is the girl!

Sat: 12:30PM
I said, '4:20 is good for me, coz I can come right after work and then have a nice dinner'.
Reply - You have said thousand times about VZ this week!
I said, Surely not a thousand!
Reply - NT sounds like such a great movie. Lets see that instead.
All join, "yes yes..!"
(stomping my feet!) No I want see VZ, I have been saying for ages! Why am I ignored all the time?? What the h#@$!!!

(These people!!)
Sat: 2:55PM
I'm in my office..writing this blog. I don't know what movie am I going to see this arvo/evening.

And you know what... I really don't give a dang any more!!!!!

Summer...

It's a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do.
- Walter Winchell

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Summer is so not my season!!!!!
God...please save me!

Thought provoking ~?!

Teach me to care and not to care....
in this brief transit where dreams cross....

- By Anonymous

Tea and Toast!!

Saturday... who likes to work Saturdays??!
No one...huh?!

Well...I used to do Saturdays till last month because I had uni on Thursdays and it was the fair swap as I myself asked for it! Then when I finished my exams - No more Saturdays! *hurray!*

My manager sent a mail out to all saying "No IT personnel on Saturday's any more as its too quiet. Not worth it."

And suddenly all these people who never even knew I used to to be in on Saturday's as they never rang me for any IT issues now say.."We have to have an IT person! No way can we let work with out IT support on Saturday!!" Even high management got involved including the GM!!

Hmmm....
I wanted this coming Monday off as I will be in Sydney, so I asked my boss, "Should I apply for leave for Monday?"

"Why don't you work this Saturday and take Monday off...that way you'll save an annual leave for your overseas trip!"

And here I am working Saturday....
Did I say working...???!

The only silver lining in this cloud is the flight tomorrow morning that flies north to the sunny Harbour city!!

Dropped an axe on my own feet (Apne hi pairo mein kulhaadi!!) by starting saturday's during uni?? - Yes I think so!

Now, its just me and my Tea and Toast!!

"Niente", "Rien".........

Hey...Its my birthday.
And what am I doing "Zilch", "Nada", "Nothing!" ......

ummm...actually I will go to Sydney this weekend....
Will write about the trip then.

Hero - You have to be quick!

After a long time I went to the cinemas to see a movie (hey! but I saw 'Collateral' not too many weeks ago - ahem - anyways..). I think that the producers of 'Hero' purposely mislead the general public and I'm very very dissapointed about that.

The adverts on telei said its a "Quentin Tarantino" movie but it wasn't! Dunno if it was a mistake or a fraud- on purpose! The adverts also did not indicate that the movie is in Chinese (yes, the whole movie!!) and to follow it the audience have to read the subtitles. I was still okay as I'm used to reading very quickly, so I could still shift my attention fairly quickly to what was happenening on the screen, but many in the audience couldn't and that they found rather frustrating. And I have to agree, I mean, if you really have to read the whole movie you might as well go home and sit with the the novel...isn't it?!

So, if you can handle the subtitles, and the 'flying in the air - walking on water' fight sequences with one sub-story repeated 3 times in different costumes and background colours (Red, Blue, Green) and are a fan of "Jet Li" then this is the movie for you.

I understood the actual story of the movie in the last 15 minutes...so I still thought everything fit in fine and I probably got my money's worth(hmm - almost), but my friends that I went with thought it was a waste of time-energy-money!!!

An Indian and Indian Food

Food....
When I think of food, I think of -

• stir-fry noodles
• pizzas
• and......
• and.........
• idli sambhar
• kadhi chawal
• pani-puri
• chaat

See.... no matter where I start I keep coming back to Indian food. And though there's nothing wrong with it, I some times say to myself, "Don't you feel like having some thing else today? Just for a change!"

Today the food at the staff cafetaria was no good. Veg Frittata - full of eggs! (I don't mid eggs in cakes/pastries..but a meal full of eggs!) So, I went down to the foodcourt. I was ready to pay $8 for decent meal in the foodcourt than get away with a crappy $1 frittata. And its a decently big foodcourt with many international cuisines. But when I reached the Indian booth, my legs just froze. I started going through the menu.

In this Hyatt food court, the Indian chef Cleo, changes the menu everyday. He keeps one veg, three non -veg curries, rice and some simple starters, pappadums and pickles. Veg today was Eggplant-Pumpkin curry. I could have easily made it at home..no worries. So the first thought came, "Move on Nupur, find something else!" and then, I asked the girl at the counter to call Cleo from inside.

I said to him, "How come you don't make nice veg curries, like paneer etc... why veggies?!"

He goes, "No Nupur, this is nice today. Lots of eggplant and pumpkin, very tasty!! I'll give you some, you want to try?"

And thus today lunch was "Eggplant-Pumpkin curry with rice pappadums and pickle".

And I thought this was the end.....

I don't really have many thoughful thoughts today.....
Sorry, I lie.

I have been thinking about something all morning. I have been thinking about the vacation that I'm planning, the friends/family I want to see, places I want to visit.... I just have 2 weeks and I want to be at two places at the same time!
The itinerary is laying on my desk....all the routes confirmed... but a stray thought, "There is much you can do if you don't go!". But I want to go!!!

Stop thinking.....
just don't think......
.....
........
............
but the thoughts wont pass.....

I hate being a grown-up tied down by responsibilities. It was never like this before.......

Getting a grip....

Okay...my second blog. I have been through a blog tour and now.... I am sort of getting a grip of what this site is all about.
Its like my life.... I'm slowly getting a grip on it as well, as I learn more about myself and about people around me.

I always thought that I was a very extrovert girl(and I was to an extent) and then 'bang!'
Reality check.... I get nervous and shy around people who can see through my extrovert bull****.
I used to have loads of mates at school... thought I was this friend-magnet. I had more than I could handle and then when school was over and I walked into the real world 'bang!'
Reality check.... I have made...what.. 2 friends in my 4 years out of school. (many mates at work, but thats all on a Hello Hi basis..no more and no less!!)
Same can be said about the professional field that I'm in. I thought I was a very creative gal who would make fame in the world of webdesigning etc.. and (yes ! again) 'bang!'
Reality check.... I've chosen a Business IT degree after a huge arguement with my multimedia tutor during my diploma..swore never to turn back to multimedia again!

Similar has been the case with many other phases of my life. Making a long story short, I somehow keep following dreams that I think are best for me...till I fall on my face or somehow I'm shook hard by reality only to find that I'm actually the opposite! (or better if I followed the other way!) It would have saved me so much time and energy if I knew in advance what I'm supposed to do..where I'm supposed to go... instead to walking into deadends all the time.

And then...I think if that was to happen, I would still find myself writing another blog complaining... why is everything so straight forward...why don't I have the opportunity to take risks...take chances. So I stop.

Days go on.... and I try to hold on to my beliefs but still making new ones as old ones get shattered by 'bang!' Reality check!!

I have no idea....

I have no idea what I'm doing here... just read the blog pages of Kapil and Rikhil and thought.. "Okay...lets give it a go..." So what am I meant to do... just ramble about my life, whats happenening etc. etc. ??