A millionaire’s day out..

Actually the title is a misnomer. Here we have a bunch of millionaires who played hard against a mixture of good and then some sub-standard opposition and partied harder. Where does this leave this bunch after a whirlwind 45 days? Exhausted and in dire need of more rest and recreation but lo, they head off to face some tough opposition on unknown wickets and grounds. If the result did surprise anyone, then it must have been a hard bit to swallow. Hell, yes it was expected.

Australia clash with England. I doubt if England can get their hands on their first ‘world’ title but this format has thrown more surprises than one can imagine. Let’s us hold on to our trousers and await….

AG, OG, 3G and now 4G…

The inured disc is healing quite well, but as the all knowing doc reveals this is just episode 1 in a long running Balaji soap. If no precautions are taken, there could be another tear-jerker from wife. On another news, my friend in Bangalore having tired himself of all the waiting for my questions on this blog, decided to seize the Facebook initiative and create his own quizzing application. Apparently, this one can be linked to blogs such as these and to save some effort on the sports quizzing front, will post the application here. Well actually that will be my next post. Watch this space.

Travails of a Horizontal..

With all my foolhardiness intact, I managed to injure my lower spine. Termed medically as a ‘disc injury’, have been lying on the bed for almost 23 hours of an astronomical day (One hour for the morning ablutions). There is really no greater medicine for this than absolute rest. Managed to skim some questions for the post-rest session, will post them in an ‘askable’ form here.. Watch this space.

Hurrah for connectivity…

Currently on Airtel Broadband..Had a brisk beginning what with speeds exceeding the normal T20 early over run rates. But that’s just the beginning. Once the Power Play (read Honeymoon) ends, then begins the hair pulling. Received news that my quizzing monster of a friend, Raja Satish has once again finished second in the Hyderabad round of Tata Crucible. He is disappointed and a bit dejected. Am sure he wanted to step into the Pro leagues (believe me fella, you might either score or fall by the wayside) with a clean slate. But hey dude, you have a wonderful record to be proud of over the past couple of years and you have done amazingly well. Consistency that perhaps can be rivalled by a L.A.Lakers. Watch this space for more…

One tough old chestnut….

Just saw off my mother at the airport bus pick up. This diminutive lady has held herself  well this past month. Losing one’s husband is never easy for it brings upon the widow a heavy burden that grows heavier by the passing minute. She knows that road ahead isn’t easy for there are quite a number of unfinished  tasks to complete and also deal with the paperwork that one’s sudden death, brings. She has adapted to her new life of solitude with fortitude and though every step brings with it painful memories, she’s managed to keep those tears and the sympathies from relatives and neighbors at bay.

Love you mum and trust me, I know the hill up ahead is quite steep but I am there every step of  the way.

Wallowing in self-pity….

The dawn of a new year as the channels proclaim is nothing but another ruse to make you feel sick and everything short of castration. Come to think of it, the new year resolutions never help. They are the exact opposite. You don’t meet them and spend the rest of the year feeling miserable. Pick up any health magazine. Screaming on the covers that one can lose 12 impossible kgs before the year is a month old, but given the hearty after effects of partying in early Jan, losing all that weight is a mite easier than getting Tiger Woods getting his wife back.

Why am I blogging, again? Ask the lady. She is leaving these nasty 14o character tweets as a feedback. I am collecting all these in case of nasty court battle which I foresee happening soon….Ouch. Just kidding.

These past fifteen days..

Gap was intentional. So much to observe and take in. Why talk when listening gives us so much? Copenhagen / 400 run chases in ODIs / Telangana and then the about-face / Personal struggles at getting a certificate etc. Phew its been quite a deal. Shall chronicle my struggle at getting a death certificate of my father. As morbid as humour can be at such a situation, one cannot help but chuckle at the foolhardiness of the Government at following the rules to a R. Look up the latter post…

Coming to grips and terms et al.

When fate deals a blow, rest assured it is a knock out. The ‘trick’ (an extremely incongruous word in the below context) lies in being  a Jake La Motta in the ring. You survive. Take the blow on the chin and when fate is all tired and worn out, you hit back and boy! you better hit hard.

Dad’s passing away is and will always be a crushing blow. Recovery will be slow and painful and every step-up has to be a catharsis. How and when is all dependent on self with able support from wife. She’s been a great support during this tumultuous week and has always been ready with words of encouragement.

Been reading up a bit, and an active involvement in one’s hobbies and interests is one way. Perhaps the long stowed away wish of doing  a Jaldi (Quickie) Five would be the way to go. Topics would be Business (week 1), Books (Classics, week 2), Thematic (Terrorism / Aus-WI test series etc.). If wishes were horses I would be racing on Mahalaxmi by now.  Ahem, there I go again….

Love you Dad…

He certainly wasn’t a superstar for the world but he sure was one for me. Though the world did not know he was gone, lots of people (self included) sure know that the world had lost a person who was good and kind and honest than any son could wish for in a father. Assiduous and diligent (he actually built his dream home himself) to the core, he however was patient enough with people around him who didn’t match up to his rather exacting standards.

He abhorred retirement and always kept himself busy for if there was one maxim he lived by it was – A mind is a terrible thing to waste. A fitness fanatic (he trained for and ran marathons post – 60), he was irritated whenever he missed his workouts. An adventurer to the core, he toned down his life by the edge image post-marriage and settled down to domesticity and decided to test his ideas on his sons instead. His simplicity did however get him into sticky situations crafted for him by his detractors (including his elder daughter-in-law). Never the one to take a gauntlet lying down, he bounced back and was well on his way to winning the war, before the Man upstairs had other plans for him.

God bless you Dad, for yours was a life well lived and though you had SOME years left in you, I am sure your heavenly abode would give you ample rest that you’d desperately craved for.

Bye, definitely, for now….

Guilt pleasures et al…

I have been taken in, sucked in, flabbergasted by this voyeur of a show called Bigg Boss (Yes, they are numerologically devout).

What first comes across as  an overdose of mammies (Claudia, Shamita Shetty and Sherlyn) quickly settles down into an hour of bitching session. Barring doctor (Read Aditi Govitrikar) and a matronly looking Poonam Dhillon and a fallen from grace music director (Ismail Darbar quoting a bemused smirk throughout), it is a free for all for everyone sniping about everyone in the house except selves.

And boy, we lap it. The audience is as comfortable as Bakhtiyar is with Claudia in the pool and as uncomfortable we are with Rohit Verma (wannable fashion designer) as Bakhtiyar (once again!) is with his wife (Tanaaz).

Do catch it, it’s on the newly crowned champ, Colors y at 9p and tonight (Friday) it has Amitabh playing a pseudo pop philosopher. Frankly, this gentleman needs a revamp. Don’t retire for we do appreciate your mediocrity too but do come up with something else, mate.