23rd July Mumbai High Tides

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Yesterday Tupi forwarded some pics of high tides in Mumbai. These pics again brought back the memories of 26th July 2005. For some people it may be fun to watch these tides, bt it is dangerous as well.

A Doll, A Baby Blanket And A Baby Jacket

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM



This doll project too was from my home science course time. Everyone else from the class had completed making their dolls, I was the only one remaining. It was very tough those days managing college studies, my programming classes from aptech, and then this home science class. I would hardly get any time for myself. Sometimes it would be like bunking the lectures to attend home science class. My friends would step in and put my proxy attendance. Really those days were very very fun.

Hmm!! while making this doll, my mom again helped me. It required a radio cassette to wrap the wool against it. My mom did'nt knew how to make it but as the directions were told to us in our class, I guided my mom and she made it, ( hey I too helped her). Ok Ok...... It is like she made more of it and I less. So ultimately its majorly her project, BUT I LOVE THIS DOLL VERY MUCH.



This is again a baby blanket. I dunno why I am addicted to this design, but everytime I think of making any baby blanket, I prefer this granny square design to others. I made it early this year. Actually I was about to make a whole set for baby, but then no luck, no time....



.......And therefore I only made this small baby jacket to go with the above baby blanket. This I would say is also incomplete. No buttons attached to the jacket, thats another thing. But actually this jacket was a hooded jacket. And as I ran out of time and wool stock of this colour, I gave up. This pattern is from Ravelry "My Favourite Crochet Site"

When It Rains In Mumbai

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

Its raining cats and dogs in mumbai since yesterday. And now whenever it rains, memories of 26 July 2005 comes fresh in my mind. I simply just can't forget those heart rendering pics of the deads in the newspapers. It was good that we didn't see all that on the television, otherwise it would have been worse for me.

Every picture had a story. Oh, God, forgive us for our wrong actions. I dont know why it happened that day, was God punishing us?

I simply just can't enjoy rains anymore. There is always this constant fear, what if the rains didn't stop? what if therez high tide again? God, this is not me. I was the first one I remember to get drenched in the rains. Never carrying umbrella and giving that as an excuse. Friends scolding and shouting, but their scoldings would sound as a background music in the rains for me. I still wish to go to some hill stations, near the snow while it rains. But the feelings won't be same again now.

I still remember that dreadful day, every second of it. And I feel fortunate enough to be alive today. My mom was with my dad, abroad. Only we four were here in mumbai. Me, my 2 sis and a bro. Day started casually as always. Later in the morning I got a phone call from my very best friend Samidha, She had to go some place in mumbai with her boss for an important meeting, and she was not ready for that. She hated meetings that time and was avoiding it. But, her boss a very good man insisted so that she can learn through it. Before leaving she called me up and as normally as it can be, expressed that she didnt wished to go, hope something happens and the meeting gets cancelled.

I chided her for that, and just encouraged her to take it up as a challenge. She'll get to learn new things from the meeting. She said Ok, pray for me and hunged up the phone. I too was preparing to go out. My Obsession with creativity makes me go anywhere, anytime. One of my aunt's friend teaches karchob, and I was very keen to learn that. Hence I used to travel far and wide just to learn that. That day too I was about to go there. I had prepared modaks, in the morning ( just dunno what clicked me that morning to prepare modaks). Later thought of making Dal-Chawal and some veggie as accompaniment. ( Preparing modaks took up my lots of time so had no other option apart from dal-chawal, which gets cooked in no time.) My two siblings left for their college, my another sis went for her classes.

Just before my two siblings were about to leave, one of my friend arrived at my place (actually not a friend, she was just an acquaintance that time, and her visit was not welcome by me). It was 1 in the afternoon, and while talking to her, the dal got burnt. There was nothing I could do, ( I was not a pro at cooking that time). My siblings just ordered the food from a nearby restaurent, ate and went to college. It was now only me and her, listening her boring talks with a smile on the face. Ooh..... How I cursed her that day, God forgive me for that. Because of her I had to miss my hobby class that day. She left at around 2 P.M. because by that time it started raining very heavily.

Now I was alone at home, crying for missing my class and cursing and blaming her all the time. At 4 P.M the electricity went off everywhere in our society, infact I think in our whole city. I started getting worried and anxious, soon my sis came back from her classes and after a while my both siblings too came back from their college. It had started raining very very very heavily by then, and as night grew, the rains became more violent. We had to shut all the windows of the house, as the wind along with rains was blowing too ferociously. It sounded very eerie, we didnt knew what to do. Soon all the telephone lines were jammed, that became more worse. That night it felt as the world would now come to an end.

I was in no mood that day to cook any dinner, as it is there was no electricity. Only courage I could gather was from my friend's family. Her sis used to call up every now and then to check on us. We really thanked God as we were not able to call anyone neither anybody's call reached us except that from my friend's house. It was really a miracle. We got some courage by her sis's constant calling. Her father too talked and gave courage, told not to worry, things will be fine. But, when worry creeps in within you, nothing else feel soothing. Besides my sami was stuck up in the rains, I was really worried about her and was constantly praying for her safety.

After waiting for long, we ordered biryani foil packs from star biryani, a well known catering service of our place. The man on the other line was in a funny mood and asked whether it was raining in our place (his place is hardly 10 mins. walk from our place), I responded postively and he said it was the same at his place too and hence the service is closed for today. We were left high and dry, scared to go and cook in the kitchen because of the thundering sounds. Ultimately we ordered chana masala from sahyadri hotel, not sure of getting the same reply from there too. However, God bless that guy and the delivery man. We got the parcel and ate it with only bread (there was no other thing that day at home except for modaks).

After having the food there was nothing to do apart from getting scared by the thunderings occuring at regular intervals. We offered our prayers and went to sleep. We were so scared that day that I asked my brother to sleep with us in the same room. I was just praying and hoping the night to pass away soon. Felt a lill relief at day break, but after that all the news I got to hear and read in the newspapers along with those faces, dead bodies and all the destruction, i just couldn't be at peace for a lot many days.

Really life is too short, we can never expect when our turn would come. If I would have gone out that day, I wouldn't have returned back alive, as the place I was about to go, it was a low lying area, and as reported in the newspaper maximum number of people were found dead over there. I thanked Rab and silently prayed for that friend for saving my life. She was actually sent by God that day, otherwise there was no chance of her coming to my place at time of the day.

I realised one thing that day in the real sense. We should every time seek forgiveness and at the same time thank God for all the blessings he has bestowed on us, however small or big. And guests..... however good or bad, they must be always welcomed from our heart.

Baby Dress And Blanket

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM



This is the next in baby's list which I dared to make. Actually, I lacked a lot of confidence. No matter whatever goodies I made, I always felt that others do it much better. It was my mom who encouraged me and appreciated my work. Then there were my friends who made me sit on the "chana tree" hahahahah. Well I think they made me sit on the moon. They too appreciated and encouraged my work like anything. Apart from my mom, I would specially thank my two very best friends and their both the sis for making me what I am today. Thanks Mom, Thanks Harshu, Thanks Sami (well she is Samidha, name very similar to mine), Thanks Didi and Thanks Tupi.

After making this baby frock I really got enough confidence to further try out other designs.

This is a small baby blanket which I made out of the remaining wool from my mom's time. Yup!!! those purple, blue and green wools were the remaining stash out of which I made this blanket. I only had to bring the base white colour to go with it. The result it turned out to be very beautiful and adorable. I feel its a mix of two times, my mom's and mine, and that's why this blanket holds a special place in my heart.

My mom always used to tell me to finish off her remaining wools, but as they were not enough to complete any one project, I always used to be confused regarding its use. Once my neighbouring didi gave me this idea and even my mom was surprised and happy by the outcome of it. Thanks Archana didi... Thank you very much.

Baby Ponchu

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

God!!!! At last I am back, what a relief..... Last many days I am trying to post but either some or the other work came onto my lap which I couldnt postpone. Even After I got some time off, still I was not able to post as I was not able to locate the pics which I wanted to post it here. Thanks to my lill bro who is always formatting the pc and storing my files.... God knows where. Its a a task to locate them again. Well, now I think I've got a permanent solution for this problem, I've got myself an external hard disk wherein all my files can be stored. Thanks a lot to God for giving people brains to make such things, otherwise life would have been a hell....

Now,,, life is and was quiet busy. Did a lot of things, and still therez lot to be done. Well on the cooking front, experimented a lot this time too.... to begin with, my all time favourite steamed modaks, Rod (spelled as road), Mava cake, Methi laddoos, Rice-Wheat bhakris.. etc etc... I am sorry but this time I was not that patient enough to click all those pics of the recipes. "SORRY". I understand blogs look good with pics, Insha allah I'll try it the next time.

I also want to vent out my anger against the police brigade but I think i'll write about it in my next post. Unnecessary I just dnt wanna spoil my mood as of now. Well Well,,, In my last blog I had posted all that my mom had made. There were many more things but right now its all that I have.

Now, its my turn. Although I have also distributed many things to people so whatever is left with me I'll post it. I've categorized the pics, into baby items, doilies, purse and others, can't decide which to post first because dunno when will I be able to get login again. Anyways, lets start with baby's only.



This is the very first poncho which I had made while I was doing my home science, during my college days. I had also made socks and a hat along with it, but I am not able to locate them now. Very bad of me, I can't take proper care of my own things.