Where have the winters disappeared ?

I have always looked forward to visit Himachal during winters and enjoy sitting next to the sigree in the evening . It was always enjoyable to get up in the morning , in Ghanari , and look outside and shiver to see the frost and thin layer of snow , frozen dew , on top of the car . Surprisingly this all was missing this year. Palampur was always worse but alas this was not to be .

The view from Vijay,s house ,s rear balcony has been breath taking for me. Great , magnonimous Dhauladhar and the bengal range , beyond which one has the Leh and ladakh valley are to be seen to behold your breath. Even this range was bare and the silver sheet of snow missing

Birthday celebration at 70

Being a firm believer in not celebrating birthdays, I was embarassed at 70 to celebrate my birthday. Both Tara & Suman went out of their way celebrating it a day earlier as I was to drive back to Delhi on 26th Jan

It was very nostalagic to be around Hoshiarpur around this time , where I was born and had completed my Masters education, in Palampur, where my Mother was born and where I spent some of my formative years and of course Ghanari where my father was born. The only thing I missed was the shivering winter cold, I love .Vijay's fire place was the perfect place to be around drinking some choicest of whisky but alas that shiver was missing!

One of my achievements and gift I got from my sons this birthday I shall cherish but not share with others...

Australia Day 2009

It was Australia Day today & a public holiday but I decided to go upto the Blue Mountains (after washing the clothes) and finish a job to make some weekend money! Started at 0600hrs and finished at 1000hrs, then came back & dropped by to meet a friend of mine who I'd let down earlier this month.

Picked up Kanika & Mum to go to Castle Towers & get her stationary pack for Year 8, had lunch at Castle Towers & away to Showground Rd to celebrate the festivity with my friend & client Gareth Mccray a broadcaster for 2GB radio.

Came back gave Simba a bath.... Kanika made burgers for dinner which were sensational!

And another (long) weekend goes by!!!!

Kanika Performs at Sutherland for the Police Community Youth Club

Kanika has been doing some nice dance performances around Sydney and the last one was at Sutherland for the Cops & their families! I enjoyed spending the entire day with Mum & Kanika as I had taken off from work to be with my baby!

An ode to Simba...

Today I started work early & later did some work for The Coffee Club at Rouse Hill Shopping Centre and took Mum & Kanika with me. Once we finished work I treated them to lunch at the food court. It was nice...

We decided to move to Castle Towers and watch Marley & Me! what a lovely movie.... I was reminded of my relationship with Simba - our lhasa abso pup. He's a real treasure. When I look him in the eyes I see trust, love, faithfulness, playfulness, respect. He's always there to greet me & see me off with a bark & a couple of licks. He loves me irrespective of my being rich or poor, ugly or smart, fat or thin, smelly or sweaty! He's such a stress buster and comes to me with a playful loving look as if to tell me, "Main Hoon Nah!". And what more he keeps us fit coz we have to walk him everyday.

He is indeed the best thing that happened to me & I must thank Kanika for motivating me to bring him home as he is Kanika's pet but brings a lot of smiles to our small but sweet home!

This K9 member of our family is the true angel at home! Probably thats why the good old proverb that Dog is a man's best friend holds good even today!

Off to Winmalee..

Yesterday, I decided to work and drove up to to Winmalee in the Blue Mountains. It was a wonderful drive and just the ideal recipe to relax the mind.. My client Andrew (& his wife) from Mountain Engineering Surveys were extremely hospitable, made some wonderful lunch for me including the perfect cuppa coffee!

Driving in my Beetle
Picturesque view from Yarramundi viewpoint
Nice quiet peaceful drive

Came back and went with Mum & Simba for a walk. After dinner we spent some time with neighbours in the street who are essentially Mum's friends.

Dad returns to India!

Dad returned to India to have his radiation treatment earlier this evening. Kanika & I will really miss him coz we'd both spend time with him in different ways. Kanika would go shopping with Mum & Dad as I was away at work during her holidays. She'd cook some lovely meals for them and watch movies with them. We did go out to some of the finest restaurants & pubs here. Personally for me Dad was my buddy, mentor & gym partner. We'd watch each other working out and I could see that wry smile on him that probably said, "Son at your age I was so fit that I carried the flame for The Tokyo Olympics!"

Thanks Dad for a wonderful brief trip to Australia and hoping you make many more to bless our little home. Wish you good luck for your Radiation knowing well that you will come out of it as a healthier person! May the force be with you..

People like Nick keep me going each time I stumble & fall!

Are You Going to Finish Strong?
Nick Vujicic has no arms or legs but has come to terms with his lot in life and he delivers an inspirational speech to these school kids that they will probably never forget.

Click on the link below

http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html

Come September!

Kanika & I will be attending Nisha's wedding in York, England later this year. It will be my first overseas holiday since moving to Australia & I am anxiously looking forward to it. I did travel for work to India several times but those were short trips which were very exhaustive. We will stopover to catch up with our friends, Neeraj & Jacci at Dubai.

Looking forward to September & reuniting with Sanjay & the family in England!

Pictures from the UK at Christmas

Hello everyone

Following the excellent news of my Dads recovery, we can all start looking forward to a great future and thought i would share some pictures with you all of some of the family over the Christmas period and one of me and my friends on my 30th this year. So here goes


The Table before the food has been served


Table with the food. The Turkey this year fed between 16-18 people hahahahah



Everyone is feeling a little full after Christmas Lunch


Tanuka obviously enjoyed her Christmas Pudding :-)


Dad and Chachaji relaxing in the evening


The gorgeous Christmas Tree!


Tara Chachiji

Simon, Gemma, Steven, Cecile, Joyce (Simons Mum), Sarah (Simons Sister) and Tanuka all enjoying a drink or two on New Years Eve in York. Ja was away in Canada so couldn't be with us.

And Finally................................

A few of us on a night out in York to celebrate my 30th Birthday. We all decided to do something slightly different and wear these Elf hats, it was a good job as it was freezing outside.

Soubia & Javvaad (friends) join us for Sunday Lunch

Me, Dad, Mum, Javvaad & Soubia

Kanika, Mum & Soubia

Javvaad & Soubia came and had lunch with us. Kanika made some lovely snacks as usual. Mum had made some lovely mutton biryani & matar paneer with raita. We had sewaiya for dessert & dried paan. A nice Sunday arvo was spent in good company.

Later we dropped Kanika at her friend, Sammy's place for a costume party till 830pm. Omigosh I'm getting late for the Gym! Adios...

India Trip 2008-09 AFMC Reunion and Goa

This was at the basketball court AFMC party on 25th night.

Shalini at Majorda beach South Goa

Riya at Mulshi lake near Pune at the Batch picnic

Shruti at Majorda beach. I was trying to get the sun set in the background.

Haymarket & China Town..

Kanika, Mum & Dad in China Town

Enjoying Lunch in Haymarket!

The lunch was delicious!!!

Luckily we didn't have to walk much..

Mum Outside on the street..

The drive back...

Kanika had dance earlier in the day and thereafter we left for Haymarket & China Town to have a meal there. We enjoyed the Prawn Sizzlers with some beer, Kanika enjoyed her Prawn & Noodles with a chocolate gelato & Mum had a lovely Beancurd & Veggy Sizzler with a Mixed Berry drink. It was a day well spent with Kanika getting hersef a nice floral Review top (My choice!!!), Black Giordano Shirt (My choice!!! but presented by her Grandparents).

It's fun to be at The Gym..

Some low resolution pictures from my blackberry of Dad & Me working out in the gym. Its fun to finish work and drive with Dad to the Gym and burn some calories & my beer belly. After watching movies like of Shahrukh Khan & Amir Khan one does get tempted to work on burning some fat... Dad does the Treadmill, circuit training and I do some rowing in addition to the treadmill & circuit training after which we both are off for some relaxation with steam & spa jets aka jaccuzi.

2009 for Me...

I see 2009 as a year in which I am going to make a new beginning, start living my life with more purpose.. thinking about Kanika as my top priority... focusing on my IT consultancy and putting together 39 years of my experiences together to plan a secure future for Kanika & Myself. It's been a tough year for my family & me but I have learnt a hell of a lot in the past 12 months. I have learnt where I stand with my family & friends and have indeed become a wiser man.

I will endeavour to spend the next few years rebuilding myself and I know age is not on my side but triumphant I will be as I get over the insecurities that haunted me in the past. I do have the greatest resolve to strive harder as I cross each obstacle that comes my way and achieve success in all my endeavours.

I know there will be a lot spoken and people will judge me for my recent actions to which I must confess that I have been honest in all my dealings with everyone in my life be it personal or professional. I have been faithful to those near & dear to me & always attempted to collaborate with and support those who needed my help and when the real moments of truth came I realised where I stood with reference to each one of them. I always stood for values & principles which I learnt from my father, the education imparted to me and fine parenting during my formative years.

Lets hope this year brings peace, happiness and prosperity to each one of us as this is my great desire for 2009!

An Arvo at Shelly Beach..

Shelly Beach is beautiful

A Sunny day brings a vibrant feeling to the sands!

It is relaxing to be out by the Sea..

Dad & Mum at Shelly Beach

Dad poses for the camera!

And why shouldn't I?


And the last one for the day!

before we retreat towards home...

New Year's Day at The Entrance

We drove down to The Entrance to spend the day there. It was nice and buzzing with people celebrating the first day of 2009. We had lovely seafood for Lunch & Mum had some Ceasar Salad with Chips. Pelican feeding started at 3pm which was nice to watch. And then drove back via Shelly Beach.

Pictures from India & England Please!

It would be really appreciated if we get pictures and updates from India and England please. Come on Sanjay, Tashi, Nisha, Ja, Rajinder Chachaji!