Some funnies from our family...

Chris goes to an electrical shop and asks for soldering iron. The bihari shop wala says "milega" . Chris turns around and says to me (waiting in car) he only has "milega" :))))) is that the brand??? 


Me: Does anyone want some coconut crunch for dessert?
Chris Bastianpillai : No way, I don't like it...
Me: How can you not? You are not Normal !!!
Kanish: Listening to us talking, " That's because his incident ray angle does not equal is reflected ray angle" obviously he is not normal :)))

Kanish's 10th birthday poem from Mom

Dear Kanish - Tomorrow you will be 10!

You sure have had an eventful decade, 
but now make most of the century you need to hit ahead....

I respect and learn from your resilience and your ways of adjusting to the new country with unending patience...
I always admire your curiosity and eagerness, when you learn to fix things from dad with such perfectness...

You have given me moments of pride and glamour,
 I wonder how I would ever return this honor....

As you now discover yourself, remember what dadu Sid and all your teachers said!!!
They think you are too loyal a friend and too sensitive, but remember the world may not be as Rosey as you think...

Be wise, be merry, and don't every let the smile fade away from that happy face...

Birthday poem for my uncle - Anant Bhide

It was devastating to lose my father,
But am grateful that he has an elder brother…

“Dada”, is what we all call him fondly,
As a pillar he stands behind us firmly…

The first one to leave his village, taking the road less travelled
The first one to be an engineer, leaving everyone marvelled…

What a privilege it is to observe your conviction,
your genuineness, your dedication is truly an inspiration…

The ideal son, the ideal brother,
The ideal uncle and the ideal father…
It is not easy to live such a life
And you did it all without strife.

A realist, an atheist an advisor to us all,
I wonder, how do you manage to master it all?

A walking Encyclopedia, a voice of reason
A multi-talented man, a friend for every season…

At your age most compliant of pains and ailments,
You teach us to embrace our problems with no complaints…

On your birthday today, and many more to come
Hope we all learn a thing or two and like you we become…

Chris's Borthday Poem - October 8th 2014

Continuing my theme of Birthday poems,
I sat down to write one for you,
Words seem to have disappeared,
As I cant find the right one's for you...

So let me make an attempt,
To tell you such an entertainment,
It has been to watch you settle
In a fun, bizarre and crazy environment...

May 2013 is a milestone, an adventurous step for you,
Adjusting in a country, quite foreign to you,
thought of eating at Vaishali's make your eyes lit up,
Enjoying jalebis and ladoos for breakfast, aren't you living it up?

I promised you a retirement, a promise that will happen!
But then, who will teach the kids to ensure their futures we shapen...
There is so much you have experienced, there is so much you can share,
So forget the dreams of afternoon naps, lets go help those kids in despair...

I know driving is your hobby, so is cruising at high speeds,
But when drivers cut in mindlessly, it sure does push your limits..
Let me tell you something, most Indians have a PHD in driving,
Oh those stubborn Punekars, they wont change for you, so just enjoy your riding...

Dealing with Indian systems, is last on your "things to do",
Every time you wait in queue,
I chuckle at the murmur of , " do they have single digit IQ"...

UK, Aussie, US, every country you traveled,
Perfection and quality is always what you nurtured,
"Its OK na" attitude, surely makes you grumpy,
Just chill my dear, its only because we are too many....

All said and done, its just amusing and amazing...
Amazing, that you are here, a step many only think of taking...

For someone who is chatty, for someone who loves to talk,
Its a shame that the language has become a block,
Cultures, festival, traditions, hindi, marathi the list of unknowns is long,
However your sporty spirit and smiling face, makes up for it all...

Thank you for being here, making my dream yours,
Thank you for giving meaning, to this blessed life of ours!!!

Siddharths 13th Birthday Poem from Mom

Happy Birthday Sid, my big boy with a charming smile! 

You're now thirteen,
You've arrived at a special age,
Choices and plans, what will you be,
A doctor or lawyer an engineer or sage?

It's quite okay if you don't know,
More important it is, to live each day,
Take each challenge one step at a time,
Learn and enjoy, your work and play.

Live each moment, do all things well,
What's inside you, are things that last.
At home, at school, wherever you are,
Thanks be to God, you're growing fast,

Life goes quickly, it's a great gift,
God grant you wisdom to reach your quest,
For us dear son, you are most precious,
We Hope to see you do your very best.

May true friends come, they are a blessing,
Choose them wisely, this is our advice
Everyone fails at one time or other,
But learn from the failures and grow wise.

You have the smile that kills many hearts,
And surely the looks to make impression that lasts,
I know you love to eat, but eat only what you should...
Now be a good teenager and make us proud!

Of people, things, generations and more during my morning walk....

Since being officially diagnosed as a "sweet person" aka diabetic, one thing I have been stickler about is a decent 5 km morning walk...I'd like to add rain or shine, pan sadhya punya madhe, "Ye re ye re pausa" situation aaslya mule, just shine!!!

I set my mood right by loading the ipod playlists with Mangeshkar to Bhosale to PL Deshpande to Sonu Nigam to Rafi to Kishor Kumar to Yo Yo Honey Singh :-)) Unhh Unhh, I must confess, walking on the beat of, " Char Bottle Vodka" at 6.30 am is not always a bad thing!!! Now some readers may want to kill me for even typing his name on the same line as the other legendary musicians, so my apologies...but in the end whatever gets me going, right? 

Anyhow, while I walk I come across so many strangers who now seem like unspoken friends, same recognisable faces at same spots and turns. What has become more and more obvious in my interpretations is the generation gap and how we techno-savvy people are really changing for the worst!!!! Let me tell you why….

I see many disciplined old couples going for a refreshing morning stroll. I meet one Aji Ajoba (grandma, grandpa) daily. Ajoba is tidily dressed, aged gracefully with silver hair combed neatly…portraying his years of experience…while Aji is sweet and comfortable in her cotton salwar also dressed meticulously and gives a broad smile each day we cross paths. I reckon they are in their late 70s…but nothing softens my heart like the sight of the handsome old man holding his wife’s hand as they cross the Baner road at MyWorld…simply a nourishing sight!

And then there are the sport model wannabes…with their fancy sporty attire and shoes and colourful headbands…one wonders are they out to get a good morning run or to model their branded sports wear…its amusing!!

On the other hand, I see many many groups of mums and their kids also waiting at the bus stop for the school bus to come. From their uniforms, I can tell they go to some up-market international schools. What is appalling is that all the kids are standing with smart phones in their hands, crushing candy or playing angry birds without interacting with each other. When I went to school, my friends at the bus stop and I wouldn't stop talking with each other after reaching school…and even in the classroom Ahem!!

How unfortunate can it get? Kids, with their heads buried in phone, who can't be bothered to look up and say a good morning let alone smile????

It made me feel disappointed and concerned at the same time and I just couldn't stop thinking, will these kids grow up to be the old together and turn into the gentle and caring ajoba who hold’s ajis hand while crossing a busy road??

Is this a dream for todays generation?

My Aaji, Ayurveda and Diabetese...

Ayurveda and Diabetes

Ayurveda has always been close to my heart. The immense faith and love for Ayurveda was fostered by my sweetest Aji (grandmother) who also was the daughter of an “ayurvedic Vaidya” in small city of Chiplun along the Konkan coast.

For every symptom / illness anyone complained of, she had an all natural remedy to suggest.  . As kids we never went to a doctor for anything. She always had her small pitara (treasure box) of her magical medications that just made us feel better. I think the real secret was in the warmth of her loving hand stroking my hair or face when she applied fever or headache medication on my forehead. But mind you, her medicines may sound ancient, but she was the most progressive grandmother I have met. An expert home maker, a Annapurna and a firm believer of, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say it”. She brought us up with these values which I sincerely wish I didn’t forget from time to time. A short sweet lady who embodies love and how I wish she was around today like she did whenever I needed her in my forming years….

I hope to make a diary of all her medications for various illness and hope to publish it some day. But in the mean time, here is my first set of blogs Aaji, in your memory. I know you are watching from up there and I want you to know that my belief in Ayurveda still exists and I have the conviction to support my diabetes treatment with the natural remedies, just like how you would have wanted me too. 

My Aaji, Neela Chitale.

A Sugarfree Sweet Life

A Sugarfree Sweet Life

I had always heard that life really changes when you turn 40, of course I never believed it until it happened to me!!! Sept 2013, I turned 40 and a switch went OFF…..things just started to change, heels started to hurt, hunger pangs, blurry vision and on and on….I procrastinated seeing a doctor for almost 6 months and finally I did…What a rude awakening that was, sugar levels of 400, Holy cow!!!!

I like to believe I am a sweet person, but don’t want to be this sweet either J It just doesn’t fit well with my “ Kokanastha Brahmin” tag! Once I read the reports, the sugar in my blood translated into buckets of salty tears….Being a gestational diabetic thru’ both my pregnancies, and a family history of diabetes, I always knew that I am future candidate for this condition which millions suffer from, but I didn’t expect it at 40! Honestly speaking, having home help in India and an academy to establish and run did play a small role in me ignoring my food and exercise habits… Needles to say, I have simply embraced the world of insulin needles and exercise and carb-controlled diet….

Chris, my life support has been a great husband and kept my spirits high to tackle this. My kids have started to remind me, Mom don’t eat this and that and even have been courteous by choosing a banana over an apple from the fruit basket, as I am not allowed to eat bananas. I must say am fortunate to have all this support and a great doctor to take me to a life without needles…

The chef in me is now challenged to create unique and easy diabetic friendly Indian recipes and hence this blog to help me document my journey dealing with diabetes, create awareness and to help others like me to manage this condition…. I am really looking at diabetes as a catalyst to healthier, happier and sugar free sweet life.