New Era

I guess you want details of the date first? Fine!

The blind date (BD) was organised by a friend of mine (D) and the only detail I had from D about the BD was that his name was J. D booked the table at the restaurant and gave me a time and a place. Arriving a lil' late, I told the waiter that I had a table booked and he informed me that there was a gentleman waiting for me. I can't say that I was nervous because I didn't know anything about J so I didn't have any expectations. It was a nice feeling to not expect anything. As I walked over to the table, I was greeted by a tall (and we all know how important that is to me!), Caucasian and cute guy.

"Impressive!" is what I thought to myself but with still an evening of dinner to get through, I didn't get too excited. Conversation flowed smoothly most of the evening but that was mainly due to me. J was very sweet and I enjoyed his company immensely but I think the evening made me realise that I need someone who is a lil' more confident and is a bit more vocal. We exchanged numbers and I doubt that it will develop into anything apart from a casual friendship. But at least it's something that I can tell the grand kids!

Speaking of the opposite sex, recently I have been prone to a bout of wolf whistling which, maybe when I was younger I would have felt slightly pleased about but now I was highly embarrassed (though a lil' pleased!). The wolf whistling I can deal with; though cringing as to what I about to write next! Yesterday a very young looking boy (20?) approached me with "Wow. Hey sexy. You are buff!" (the first definition by the way!). I may have actually gone red and as a Sri Lankan we all know how difficult that is! It was horrible! But the price we must pay I guess! *eye rolling*

The "New Era" title does not reflect my new found desirability to the opposite sex. In fact, I have started my new job and though it seems as though they expect oodles from me and I don't have the first clue, I have a good feeling about this.
And it helps that they want to give me a company American Express card! Wooooooo!

(A very rushed post with spelling and grammar mistakes - apologies!)

Status Update

The weekend was spent celebrating Appa's 60th. It meant that the alcoholic parent (AP) could have a field day. Saturday was spent with a few of his friends and their families. Families meaning their young children. Entertaining and playing host is hard enough for me and siblings when we're running in and out of the kitchen trying to feed people, pour drinks and even make a cup of tea. But when we're faced with 4 year olds, as good as we are with children, we just don't have enough toys in our house to keep them entertained! The AP was on good form though. Drank, chatted and managed to take themselves off to bed without ruining it for everyone.

The Sunday was family day. I love coming from a big family. Don't get me wrong it has its disadvantages - plenty of them but I have so many cousins and aunts and uncles with whom I get along well and enjoy seeing every once in a while! Highlight of my day was looking for my Sithappa (who had a bit too much to drink) and finding him passed out on my brother's bed! I'll upload a photo of the beautiful cake that I had made.

I have a new job. In fact, I've had it since before Christmas but I haven't started yet. I start next week and guess what? They're sending me to Switzerland for training purposes! How exciting is that? I've never been in a foreign city by myself though and the idea is a lil' daunting!

And I have a blind date on Saturday.

Clearly I wouldn't have been able to fit this all onto my FB status update!

Appa

Dearest Appa,

Happy 60th Birthday.

I know the chances of you reading this are non existant but you're 60 - it's ok, you don't need to know how to use a computer! Besides, that's what you bore 3 children for!

Lots of love

Me, x

Dependents

Certain forms that you may fill out may ask you about dependents. I guess for most people, they're asking about children.

I don't have any children but sometimes I think of my relationship with my siblings. I know that in most instances I do mother them. I don't think I can help it. I'm the eldest and I have always been and will be protective of them.

Today I did something stupid. One of my siblings told me something and I gave the complete wrong response and was quite selfish about it. I feel horrible. I've apologised and I know that it's nothing that is major. My siblings and I fight one moment and will be back to normal within a few minutes but I feel awful. I've just sat there with them as they fell asleep. And I watched them for a lil' while. And I kept thinking, how could I be such a bitch to upset them?

This is a crap post which makes absolutely no sense but I feel like shit.

Twenty Ten

Are you going to say "Two thousand and ten" or "twenty ten"?

Two thousand and nine (coz let's face it - no one said twenty o nine!) hasn't been great but it hasn't been bad.

I have poured my heart out on this blog. And I can only tell you that twenty ten (coz that's how I'm going to say it!) will probably consist of the same. In fact, my first angst ridden post will probably be written tomorrow telling you the antics of my alcoholic parent!

For me, the lows of the last year have been eased in the knowledge that there are strangers out there - bloggers in fact that take the time to read, comment and just have a spare thought for me.

Thank you.

But now for a new year and a new decade, I hope that you have a good one.

And So It Is Christmas

You know how sometimes people get confused. I am one of those people. And the sometimes means more than often.

Raised as a Hindu, educated by the Church of England, best friends with a Muslim and from a country where Buddhism is the majority religion and a scientist by profession means that I am more than liberal with my religious values!

Christmas in the West has evolved so fast. So much thought goes into food and presents as opposed to the celebration of the birth of Christ.

I went to a carol service a few days ago. A very simple one. I like carol services. The singing of carols takes me back to when I was a child and I used to sing with great gusto as I played an angel or king or shepherd - even Mary once in my school Nativity play!

But this is not about that. The Father of the small chapel in his sermon gave me a lot to think about which I want to mention here in my own lil' way.

I'm not preaching but for all of you out there that have been taken in by all the presents and the lights and the food, please try to remember that there are those out there that are less fortunate than yourselves. Those who have had a tough year. Those who won't be receiving gifts. Those who have lost loved ones. Those who can't afford to lay on a grandeur meal. Those who won't have a roof over their heads this Christmas amongst so many other reasons that I could list.

I just want you to take some time out and spare a thought for them and how if you haven't this year, think about how maybe next year you, I and we could help them. Because as much as we all like to receive, receiving a smile and knowing you made a difference (no matter how small) is the best gift!

Merry Christmas people.

Scrumps, x

A Snow Filled Thought

I know the title doesn't make any sense. But because it's Christmas - I don't care.

The weather here has been somewhat awful to say the least. Don't get me wrong, I love snow. I love it when I know that I am safe inside the confines of my own home and I don't need to go out and that when I do have to go out, hopefully it'll all have melted away and it will be safe to walk on the pavements without fear of slipping over and hurting myself!

Yesterday though I was at work and the snow fall from the weekend had yet to disperse and what was left of it had turned to a sludgy slushy ice fest. Sitting in my office counting down the hours until I could go home, I saw snow start to fall. Not only falling but actually settling. Crap is what I initially thought to myself because I knew that driving home would be a nightmare.

I decided then that I would try and leave half an hour early in a bid to get home within a reasonable time. 45 minutes later, I am still on the same road. The road that I had parked on. The road which usually takes me 2 minutes to get across!

In all it took me three and a half hours to get home. A journey that usually takes me an hour. I'm just happy that I got home safe. I saw one car turn a corner at about 5mph and the back end of his car just kept going and he ended up hitting two parked cars. Poor guy.

Despite some crazy drivers (seriously - it's snowing! We're all driving at 10mph but yet you seem to want to drive past us at 20 and try and cut us all up!), sometimes you see things that redeem your faith in human kindness. Cars were struggling to drive uphill, and I saw people (pedestrians/passenger of other cars) all helping to push those that were stuck and having helped one car, come back and help another. And all this despite the mini snow storm type thing that was going on.

Made me smile.