Of things imagined...

The idea of repentance

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:41:00 +0000

In the week leading up to the day Jesus died for OUR "sins", the Pope refused to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in residential school abuses. This, in the only country (3 provinces as far as I can tell) where the government still uses taxpayer money to funds schools that preach the Catholic doctrine as part of the education curriculum!

While I understand that the Pope is not Jesus, I do expect that he, as its leader, represent the values of the church. Though repentance is not part of the ten commandments, confession and penance are supposed to absolve our sins. The church insists that we cannot receive first communion without first confessing our sins to the priest and carrying out what ever penance he prescribes. How is the church going to be “washed in the blood of the lamb” this Easter Sunday if it cannot even practice what it preaches?

When the revelations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests started trickling into the news, it was easy to justify them as actions of a few rotten apples. But, when the church refuses to accept responsibility for decades of institutional abuse of the First Nations peoples, one begins to wonder about the core of the institution. Bad enough that the church had to wait till the Canadian courts had to assign blame and a settlement amount to pay for healing programs for the survivors. Worse were the allegations that, while the Anglican, Presbyterian and United churches have met their obligations, according to the federal government, the Catholic Church is shirking its responsibility. Worst is the fact that the church used a legal loophole to get out of paying a large chunk of the settlement!

While the Vatican Bank is supposed to have $8 Billion in assets, it’s a little lame to use “failed fundraising” as the excuse to wriggle out of its responsibilities. This money was not going towards bankrolling people who are generally doing okay. It was money meant to fund The Aboriginal Healing Foundation that was working to help people suffering from the many effects of unresolved trauma, including but not limited to:

lateral violence (when an oppressed group turns on itself and begins to violate each other
suicide
depression
poverty
alcoholism
lack of parenting skills
lack of capacity to build and sustain healthy families and communities

It is beyond my comprehension how an institution that preaches, “repent, confess, and you will be saved!” can so blatantly refuse to practice what it preaches and then wonder why it is hemorrhaging patrons.

Grace is supposed to overcome the unwilling heart. So, does this mean that God bestowed this grace on the Anglican, Presbyterian and United churches, but feels the Catholic church is exempt from this responsibility?

Pope Francis has revived hope for a renewed Catholic church in recent years through his actions and words. It is unfortunate that when it comes time to putting a few of the church’s large dollar reserves behind his supposedly being “extremely close to indigenous people”, he seems reluctant (at least in Canada) to talk the talk or walk the walk.

Wanting to “engage in the full process of reconciliation” does not mean the abuser gets to decide the terms of reconciliation. It simply keeps up the perpetuation of the crimes by not even attempting to offer closure. Father Thomas Rosica is absolutely right! “For a papal visit to take place, the Pope doesn't just decide to hop on a plane and come on over. There's a long process.” And, part of that process should have been for the Pope to do his homework and listen to the needs of the people to make his trip a meaningful and positive experience for everyone he is visiting.

Being a born Catholic who has spent most Sundays of my life at Church, I will confess that I have found a lot of comfort and peace within the walls of the church and in the company of some very wise Jesuit priests. But these days, I find going to church a difficult experience, because all I can think of is the hypocrisy of every word and action. I think it’s time the Pope and the church take a leaf out of their own book and say out loud, “Lord, I am not worthy…”

Weeks 2, 3 & 4

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 16:26:00 +0000

Quick tip: don't start projects days before you are expecting all your family for their first visit to your new home and country! this post was in draft form for 3 weeks! :(

So weeks 2 & 3 are a bit of a happy blur with my whole family descending on Toronto for the very first time. I had just about managed to get all the weeding done before they landed, but that was about it.

In week 3, mom and Eva came and helped me put in the edging to mark my plot out. By week 4, we were just the 5 of us left and things are slowly going back to normal. We managed to do some planting and get the seedlings in the ground. We put in:

- 6 Beefsteak tomatoes

- 1 Cayenne pepper (seed saved from my plant last year)

- 6 Red bell peppers

- 4 Jalapeno peppers

- 8-10 Pole bean seeds

- 2 Marianne's peace tomatoes

Next to do is the fence and we should be good to weed, water and watch them grow. Let's hope things settle down soon and I'm able to post more often when the flowers and produce start rolling in.

Another Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Wed, 24 May 2017 16:21:00 +0000

Here it is! My own little experiment into real farming. 30 square feet of compost rich land loaned to me for the season by the Backyard Farm and Market, to do with what I please.
The intention is to write a weekly blog post to chronical this experiment and figure out if this is something that makes sense to do on a larger scale (maybe 60 sqft next year).

Over the summer, if I'm successful with this exercise, I should post at least once a week with pictures and updates. Considering, I have less than a handful of super loyal readers (Thank you akka and Susheel!!!), this is more of a journal just to track this project and make it more tangible with better record keeping and progress reports. So wish me luck. Here goes nothing...

Stage 1: Weed Removal.

It's way harder than I expected, taking me 3 days to clear. That's probably cause I get to go in only one hour a day during the week. I hope the weekends will be more productive.

By Saturday, I hope to be able to plant the seedlings I've been nurturing at home. Cherry tomatoes, cayenne, jalapeno and bell peppers and heirloom tomatoes. I still have some pole beans and summer squash I have to direct seed on the bed along with Es watermelon.

My expenses so far:

- community garden plot: $25

- seed packets: $20 (squash, corn, flower seeds, watermelon, pole beans, salad mix, tomato)

- fertilizer: $20

- fencing: $50

- jiffy starter kit - $15

- soil bag for seed starting and a few pots at home: $ 10

Total: $140

Learning for the week:

- bend with your knees not your back

- take breaks and hydrate

- use proper equipment, especially work boots and gloves

Tasks for next week:

- finish weeding and composting plot

- plant first batch of seedlings

- put up fencing

Wish me luck!

Why do we need to save the world anyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 02:21:00 +0000

It's been around for 4.5 billion years and it will probably be around for a billion more. So what's the big hue and cry about healing the world and saving the planet for? Species have been evolving and dying off for ages, long before man walked the earth and will, long after. All of them have done all they can to preserve and propagate themselves.

Mankind is the only one we know of that has the arrogance to think that our "thinking mind" has made us superior and given us insights into the planets and the stars. How do we know that for sure? Maybe we are the village idiots that don't understand. Maybe every other living creature on earth has far more wisdom than us and has realized the higher purpose. Maybe THAT is why no other species has lofty aspirations to "save the world". Instead they calmly go on with their own little circle of life, relishing every wonder this earth has to offer, quietly laughing at the silly humans trying so hard to cling to something that was never meant to stop changing or evolving.

These might sound like strange words coming from me, considering how many people I've guilt tripped into not using plastic or planting native in their gardens. I guess I'm no different from everyone else; trying hard to cling to these precious gifts, save them to show my baby before it's all gone. It's just such a shame that we can't appreciate our own insignificance in the vast scheme of things.

I guess when all is said and done, it makes sense not to take life too seriously; it is, after all, impossible to get out alive!

Two weeks of Walking the Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:18:00 +0000

So, it's been a little over 2 weeks since my decision to quite makeup cold turkey.
Nothing has changed... no weird looks from strangers who are getting to see my real face; no sudden decline in the number of people who are my friends or acquaintances; not a single inquiry into whether I'm suddenly feeling ill.

It seems to me that all the reasons I thought I needed makeup were just delusions in my head to make me feel better about myself. All along, I didn't really need it for anyone but me! I suddenly am no longer some splotchy, ugly creature that needs to hide behind foundation and mascara and a whole bunch of other war paint.

It's funny that this whole exercise, that started out as a teaching moment for my daughter to find confidence and beauty in herself, just the way she is, has ended up liberating me and making me realize that I needed to find all those things for myself first!

My mornings have suddenly become so much less hectic. I actually get to pay more attention to more important things like breakfast and getting everything ready for the day; even cleaning up a little... just a tiny little bit ;). I come home and don't have to go through a three step process cleaning all the layers off my face before falling asleep. So much time, not to mention effort and money, wasted on delusions.

Now I have the time to go hang in the library with said daughter on a weekday evening; go for a run after supper! I even got complimented by a colleague on how well turned out I was this morning. Parenthood really does make one grow in ways never imagined.

Walking the Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 05:32:00 +0000

Today as we were getting ready to go to a birthday party, Eva was watching me put on three different kinds of product just on my eyes. Suddenly she says, "I wish there was makeup for kids too." So I cautiously (and with a sinking feeling) reply, "Why darling? Kids don't need makeup." "But we want be pretty too!" came the innocent reply that haunted me all day as a big parenting FAIL!

In the four short years of my daughter's life, I've tried hard to teach her what I think are the important things in life. To be a good person; to be respectful, kind and generous; to value and respect herself as a person. But now she's old enough to learn from what she sees and, without really realizing it, I am showing her that you can only be and feel beautiful by painting your face and nails with expensive colours and dressing in fancy clothes and shoes.

So, now it's time for me to walk the talk and show her that being beautiful and respecting yourself doesn't mean covering up with 5 layers of colours and trying out 3 different outfits and shoes every time one leaves the house! I hope the time I save everyday from not having to deal with all that will not just ease my day but, more importantly, show my daughter that looking and feeling pretty has nothing to do with the things we put on our face or bodies everyday. Instead it is in the joy of loving yourself - perfection, imperfections and all!

PS: Hubby, I should have listened all those years ago when you kept telling me I looked better without any makeup! :)

The Price We Pay for Cheap Food

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:43:00 +0000

Everywhere I go these days I am assaulted by advertisements for cheap food at prices that “won’t be beat!” But as I pick up garlic from China at a dollar a dozen and strawberries from Mexico in December, I wonder what this is really costing me, my children and their children. As I spot a whole chicken for $4, I wonder if it has ever seen the meadows or pastures that were probably just outside its cage, somewhere far away (and judging from the amount of fat that had to be drained when it was cooked, I’m gonna say it never learned to walk at all!). As I go past the seafood counters, I think of all the dead Olive Ridley turtles I saw washed up on the beaches in Madras, drowned and then thrown out by the fishing trawlers clearing the sea beds of all living things.

Disturbing images and thoughts that make me think hard about the price we pay for our “cheap food.” The long term cost of these foods is being conveniently ignored to make us feel good about having to takeout fewer bills from our wallets at the supermarket. The impact of consuming this, not particularly nutritious, produce on our health and our environment seems of little concern to anyone. No one seems to want to mention the fact that paying two or three dollars less for my produce every week here in Toronto is probably adding to the food crisis in Africa and Asia. The pennies I’m saving on prices that “won’t be beat” may have something to do with the huge gym and medical bills my kids and grand-kids will probably have to foot years from now.

I don’t understand why a farmer has to harvest his produce before it is ready and sell it for less than it cost him to grow, so that it can be shipped off to some faraway place, when there is a need for that same produce in his local market! Maybe I’ll do another blog post when I finally figure that out. But for now, I’m going to spend an extra couple of dollars and buy from my local farmers’ market as much as I can and hope that, starting with the woman in the mirror, will help change the world. If you would like to as well, you can find a market closest to you thanks to the Toronto Farmers’ Market Network at http://tfmn.ca/?page_id=2

The Human Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:26:00 +0000

As much peace as I find in the soul stirring stillness of the Silent Valley, and bask on the warm beaches of the marina, marvelling at my own insignificance before the Bay of Bengal, I can't help but stand on Yonge Street in Toronto and be amazed by the amazing transformation that has been brought about, not by some supreme being that is dressed in purple robes, but mere humans!

As much as the pristine Himalayas soothed my soul and made me feel one with the universe, the CN tower and magnificent city lights energize my mind and renew my spirit. I am constantly astounded by the sheer force of will and nimbleness of mind that has allowed the human race to build, generation upon generation, some of the most awe inspiring structures ever.

Sure we probably destroyed the planet along the way and future generations are probably doomed to living in oxygen free, concrete jungles. But, why do we under estimate our kids so much? If we could build these majestic cities, that were probably inconceivable to people 80 or 100 years ago, why are we so sure that our kids, and theirs, won’t find a way to make things better? After all, the human spirit is the only thing that has endured through all these generations.

Two Weeks in Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 02:30:00 +0000

Exactly two weeks since I landed in Toronto. The most that has changed in my life? I've lost 8 pounds!! :D Trivialities aside, moving out of my beloved, but definitely small pond has made me quite a minuscule fish in the huge big ocean that is Toronto.

Living in a city with so many different cultures and ethnicities, and best of all, seeing each and everyone of them consciously acknowledged and respected is quite novel indeed. You would expect that coming from Madras, it shouldn't be too different and I should be able to fit right in. But the subtle difference here is the extremely conscious manner in which everyone accommodates the differences in culture and try their best to communicate very carefully, with respect being top most on their minds.

Life here seems to be very laid-back and calm, with almost everyone getting where they want to on time, in the most polite and orderly manner. But get into the flow of things and you realize that it is more like a flock of ducks in pond - Serenely floating around on the outside but furiously paddling with all their might just under the surface.

I've got the furious paddling down. Now all I have to do is work on the calm surface. :)

These are a few of my favourite things...

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:13:00 +0000

There are very few things that will perk up my week like watching a movie at a theater! I guess there's a reason why I knew the ticket counter guys at Satyam so well, that I could get them to sell me tickets to the best seats in the house when the board outside read 'Houseful'!

After years of being bogged down with supposedly better things to do in life, my bestest friend in all the world took me for a movie aptly titled "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". This happened to be a couple of days after he tried to convince me that I couldn't fit 68 hours of work into a 24 hour day.

Anyway, with Eva perched on my lap with her favourite blanket securely in hand, we sat down for the most fun we've had in awhile. Eva bounced and fist pumped to every song in-spite of it being 11 pm and even B was caught laughing at times (regional languages are not his first choice). It totally got me to realize that at the end of the day, a goofy movie can be a lot more satisfying than ticking off just a couple more item on an endless ToDo list!

Reminiscings and New Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:04:00 +0000

Stumbled upon my own blog after so long today. Was pleasantly surprised at the myriad things that piqued my as well as my (tiny band of devout) readers' interest for the past 5 years. From auto drivers to city administration and turtles, we seem to have quite an eclectic taste, this motley bunch of us (if I may say so myself ;)).

And now, as I prepare to leave behind the beloved cities of my youth, friends and family (whose brave faces can't veil the anxiety in their voices), I feel a strong need to revive this blog, with the anticipation of interesting adventures to experience and write about.

My one visit to Toronto 10 months ago gave me such good vibes, that I'll be setting off again - this time as a student for a year! I do intend to explore the city with as much curiosity as I did Madras and hope to record these trysts here. Let's see what comes of it...

So here's to old friends and new adventures!

Mithran Uncle

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:49:00 +0000

You taught me to spell hippopotamus when I was a little child

And gave me dire warnings when I grew up and went wild.

You took me in, in the middle of the night - no questions asked,

Let me cool off and come to terms with the world,

While discreetly making sure that my family knew I was fine.

You introduced me to people who’ve become friends for life,

And showed me how just one man

Can make a difference to so many lives.

You amazed me with your calm when I was hysterical with panic

And made me realize, more can be achieved without being hassled.

You always remembered to call around my birthday

And transformed a crumbling old church, just for my wedding day

You showed me every day that the only way to live

Was by giving it your all and going that extra mile.

I could go on and on, as could many others I’m sure

But all that’s really left to say is

Miss you Mithran uncle and thank you for having been part of my life.

Tagged.

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Sorry all who have actually been following my blog and have had nothing to follow for the past year almost... (except for the recent advertisements for certain ahmm... drugs)

Since I have been duly punished for not writing for so long, I shall restart with a tag i just found out about.

I have to grab the nearest book,

Go to page 123,
skip the first 5 sentences,
post the next 3 sentences.

So here it is:

How can you trust as an ally one who has not hesitated to intrigue fatally against a brother?'

From: The Indian Epics Retold, R. K. Narayan

I do this, mention the person who tagged me, and tag 5 other people.

I tag: Miss Iyer, Thought Traveler, Arch, Susheel, K

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Just found out that I haven't been in this city long enough to be a registered voter!
:(

RS Pandey Zindabad!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Amazingly proud of the government for not letting the oil company workers hold them to ransom!
Finally the people know that the government has a strong backbone and won't simply give into all and sundry that decide to push their luck!

We do after all, have one of the stronger economies in the world right now, and just as there are enough people to take up the jobs of the people that don't want to work, there are also a lot of jobs to go around for the qualified.

I'm just glad that no fuel only means we will have to walk to work and that we don't live in Europe where no fuel means freezing to death!

CHANGE THE WORLD...

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:18:00 +0000

...ONE CHOICE AT A TIME!

Reasons

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Found this in my drafts. Sigh! I miss Madras! :(

Now that the rains have given us some reprive from the sweltering heat, we can move on to cursing the flooded roads and clogged up traffic that are a side effect. How nice to live in a city that provides us with so many avenues to vent our frustrations of the day.

City Administration

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:36:00 +0000

This post has been brewing for quite a while actually. Started when I had to go and apply for a family card in order to apply for an LPG connection. I procrastinated as much as I could, dreading the whole process, expecting to be inundated by paperwork and tied up in red tape. But when I actually got there and went through the whole process, I realized that it wasn’t so bad at all. In fact, it was very systematic and perfectly easy, with everyone willing to help.

Of course, I did have all my paperwork in order and took the time to ensure that there were no stupid mistakes. The lines were really long and the waiting was a bit painful, but what else can u expect in a country trying to support more than a billion people (over 4 million of whom are in this city). Most of them were just about legally literate and needed help with the simplest forms. So obviously, mistakes happened and tempers flew all over the place. The people on the wrong side of the counter had to listen to various people telling them how they ought to do their jobs while the whole time, all they’re trying to do is make the slightest dent in that ever growing line in front of their desk and help people get that elusive thing called the ‘Ration card’!

This tiny group of around 20 people has to cater to the needs of all the residents of the huge residential colonies of Madras. They come to work everyday to face the same bunch of forms to be filled and procedures to be carried out. But nine of the ten forms they receive from the complaining public is either incomplete or wrongly filled in. So, every day is basically a battle to educate people who don’t really want to understand the right way to get what they want; to help uncomprehending people who want the strangest requests met - without too much record of it and in the shortest turnaround time. Just like the traffic cops (that’s a whole other post), I certainly don’t envy these guys their jobs. And, not once in any of the 5-6 times I’ve visited the ration office have I ever seen any of the people working there slacking off or just hanging around not doing their job. In fact, if you have filled your application in correctly, they guide you quite effectively and help you get quickly.

I needed the card just for the LPG connection (which would cost double at a private vendor) and as id proof, but the majority of the people standing in the queue with me depend on it heavily for their family’s monthly rations of rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene. Sure they should have computerized the system a long time ago. Of course it doesn’t make sense for these poor government employees to sit and write in ledgers and sign hand-written, rubber-stamped pieces of paper. But considering that probably no other country provides these services to its citizens on such a large scale, and that most of the techie geniuses of the country are either abroad or in the big private corporations earning big bucks, who the hell is left to automate and computerize poor little T. Nagar’s ration office? And yet, they have managed to already computerize and in fact, go virtual with the railway ticketing system.

Obviously the government has its priorities right! Most people with the need to travel are educated enough and have the means to go online and book their tickets, apply for PAN cards, electoral rolls... But most people that really need a ration card are the ones that still have no access to the computer; so why bother just yet? If they are going to have problems even when talking to a real live person, there's no guarantee that they could use a computerized system. In the mean time, for the ones with basic street smarts, the system works just fine!

The power of an idea

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:15:00 +0000

A test of endurance, solidarity for a cause, just plain fun...
there are a lot of reasons behind the presence of the 1 lac odd people at the Chennai Marathon. And all that was needed to convince more than 70,000 people to endure the blazing Madras sun for more than a couple of hours was some decent publicity; no assure prizes, no incentive what so ever unless u consider the certificate you get if you reach the finish line before 1pm.

Then there is the Teach India movement. Over 10,000 volunteer registrations within 3 days of the launch!

Shows how all it takes is a well planned and executed idea to make a difference...

Copyblogger

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:22:00 +0000

Since just about all my readers have blogs themselves (I think) and write either professionally or even just for fun, I wanted to share this brilliant post on a blog I have recently begun to follow.
It's a bit slow but hang in there and get to the end; I totally identified with it. I promise it's worth it. Let me know what you think about "How to read".

My new addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:02:00 +0000

I was recently introduced to this cool thing called 'Stumble Upon' much to the annoyance of my husband! Cause now, every time he enters our room, this is what he hears.

Another Movie Post!

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:04:00 +0000

I know this post will probably look like a PR do for my company, but I just have to write it anyway!
went to the Satyam press meet for the launch of 3D in their theaters. After the usual gyan from all our bosses and the questions from the press, the movie began. Journey to the Center of the Earth in digital 3D. WOW!!!

It's releasing at Satyam on the 29th of August, so anyone in Madras can go book your tickets well in advance. Just don't miss it! that my company developed the server that is playing the content is just the cherry on the top for me. But digital 3D simply has to be seen to be believed!

Kutty Chetan and all was well and good, and for that era, great. but to actually feel like your looking through a window and feel the depth not just coming through in front of the screen, but also inside is seriously mind blowing.

All i can say, once again, is GO WATCH!

Go watch it now!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:25:00 +0000

I simply could not understand why a colleague, who'd gone to the preview, wanted me to count him in for an 8:15 am show with the rest of us. Yeah, it seems to be the most hyped movie of the year, what with Mr. Ledger's tragic tryst with too many prescription pills. But, cynic that I am, I was pretty sure that all the drama about his performance was more because it was his last movie and a horrible marketing gimmick.

But I always liked batman and though I was not too impressed with Christian Bale in the last one, decided to see what the drama was all about. Got up at 7:00 am to catch the 8:15 show (sigh! I miss T.Nagar) and the place was full!!! Ten minutes in to the show and I understood just why Balaji came again. Mind blowing is an under statement! I'm quite willing to eat my words about the marketing hype. I don't even remember batman! It was the Joker's show all the way.

Go NOW and Watch!!!

My first article on a photography site

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Was quite flattered when a friend asked me to post on his very widely read site on photography. Seeing that he's helping me look brilliant at work with all the gyan that he's sharing, and the fact that I hadn't written anything just for fun in a really long time, I decided to take his request seriously. A couple of weeks worth of deliberation (and a bit of subtle prodding by said friend) later, here are the results.
Would love to know what you think of Photography and me.

How I miss Thee!

noreply@blogger.com (Aarathi Edward) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:36:00 +0000

- the 5 km ride from home to office
- the 10 minute walk to fresh, assorted bread
- the 2 minute walk to Murugan Idly Kadai
- my 'world famous with my in-laws' salads that were care of Kennedy Vegetable Stall
- being bang in the middle of the city and yet in such a nice calm neighbourhood
- the shinny new flyover that was completed two weeks before i had to move out!
- the potential of one day, playing basket ball in the public cement court 5 minutes from home
- the fantastic 'every non-vegetarian's dream' (BBQ Nation) that opened 5 minutes away, again two weeks before i had to move out!
- the potential of one day, walking up to Prince Jewellery and getting my nose pierced
- being able to leave home 10 minutes before an appointment and still making it on time
- having my husband leave 5 minutes before work starts and back 15 minutes after he leaves work

I know most people shudder at the thought of entering T. Nagar but given a chance, I'd go back to live there in a Madras Minute!