On Thursday we went to Lorna's house for lunch. Fantastic Mackeral curry and fried chicken. Lorna, when next?

Watched some hindi movies over the weekend. All rubbish, nothing worth mentioning.

Also popped in at Trevor's house and Olly headed straight for the books. Trevor gave me a hand painted vase, which he had painted himself. He's really so talanted. We watched a little bit of Mr. Bean and then went and picked up Anita from James' house. Lorna was there and they were all having dinner. Lorna, I hope you left some food for the poor kids. James is looking thinnner these days and I was wondering why. I think I now know the reason.

  

Due to popular demand and too much pressure from all and sundry, I have uploaded pics of Lorna's Bengali, Lorna's Masri (Egyptian) staring at her and a Friday Market scene. My fav pic, ofcourse, is of the Bengali with his uniform, trolly... et al. I'm sure Lorna will preserve this one for life!

Yesterday we went for a little bit of shopping. Olly bought shoes (she's always buying shoes and watches) and Anita bought clothes. She's alwyas buying clothes but is always saying she has nothing to wear. Lorna and I were the peaceful ones. We sat in one corner like good little girls. (What say Lorns?)

School is so hectic these days. But I love being a teacher and it's fun to see the kids learning.

Bye for now.

I've uploaded my birthday snaps on the Photo Albums link. Click HERE if you want to see them.

I've also replied to comments on the previous blog, so please check the previous blog's comments.

See you later, alligator!

October - 2nd - to ME!

Had my birthday party, in advance, at home on Thursday evening. It was a blast .... well most of the time. Lora made a film star's entry ..... 2 hours late. Melvin headed straight for the kitchen followed by 5 girls (Varsha, Vanessa, Anita, Olive and Baby Rachel).

Willy brought me a BIG vanilla/chocolate Birthday cake (He's a sweety). He also did a fantastic imitation of Anita for one of the games (sweeping the floor ... tee! hee! No wonder they call Anita, `Ms. Clean) We forced Shireen to eat bhajiyas (although she'd have eaten them anyway!) and she stuffed some in her baby, Bulu's mouth too (especially when we were watching!). Trying to teach the baby bhajiya eating skills at this age. But I have proof by way of a photograph that Bula baby is not interested in Bhajiya's. Will post the photo's tomorrow.

Gracian seemed to be every where. To begin with he cheated in each and every game. Then I heard Varsha warning him with a policeman's look to leave some food for the others even before he had started, poor guy, and at the other end Olive kept chasing him to put things on his plate. He really looked confused! Nice boy, though, ran to help Olive correct the Quiz game's answers.

Lorna and Anita had a kind of girly wrestling match at the end of the party and anyone who came in their way got a free kick.
That's the reason we couldn't get a pic of their mud wrestling! Wonder what it was about???? I think Lorna wanted to eat the white part of the cake and Anita was forcing her to eat the cardboard cake box. Enlighten me, girls!



When we watched the video recording in the night, we saw Melvin doing a kind of one minute wiggly shake for the benefit of Anita, Shireen, Varsha and Vanessa. (Although Oliver was watching, it was definitely not for HIS benefit!) Melvin, if you're reading this, we DEMAND to know what the hell you were doing acting like some Indian Snake God!
   

All in all an evening to remember for me. Thank you all for popping in and for your good wishes.

    

P.S. I've been gifted a new mobile with Recording facilities AND a camera. Now all you guys, BEWARE!!! Everything you do and say will be on the blog! Muhhaaaahhhhaaaa!

I had a little boy in my class last year, very cute looking kid, very short and very naughty. He still comes up to me daily and is always in such a hurry. Yesterday he came up to me and said, `Today my teacher taught ascending order" (Maths) , and ran away. I only told you this to prove a point.... that males from ages 4 to 40 find me irresistable! 
  


Yesterday, Olly & I went to do some birthday shopping. I so desperately wanted gifts for me from Olive (Gold, gold and more gold), she didn't even buy me a cheap ear ring. Pah! We ended up buying some party gifts (for the people who win my freaky games at my birthday party). I bought me lots of bangles (not gold) and we generally walked around for 2 hours. Olive sneezed a total of 18 times on each sleeve and though she looked relieved, i could imagine both her sleeves dripping with snot, so I walked as far away from her as possible. Ewwwwww!!

  
My sis, Anita, seems to have lost her mobile. A comment from Munna bhai M.B.B.S. tells me that Willy has lost his mobile. So who has actually lost the mobile? These two are playing games with us. But Munna bhai M.B.B.S is right in one thing ........ how is Anita going to survive without her mobile? She carries it EVERYWHERE, to the extent that that previous one actually fell in the toilet commode and that was the end of that mobile.

I wonder why Melvin isin't writing any comments. Too busy with the girls????

I wonder why Varsha is not writing any comments. I think I know the answer to this one. Melvin has eaten her brains.

I wonder why Shireen wrote just one comment. I know the answer to this one too. She was busy with her bhajiyas!

I wonder if YOU KNOW WHO feels guilty about all those ice trays and slippers.
    A little birdee tells me that Willy is putting up a surprise song and dance item specially for me at my birthday party. Clap! Clap! (Willy don't think that's enough. I still want a gift!)

Will update on Saturday with the party news and party pics.  

Had to delete a comment from Munnabhai MBBS. Generally he writes funny stuff, but suddenly got carried away and wrote some double meaning stuff. People please remember this is a family read blog. All the same, like I mentioned before, he generally writes very funny stuff, so no harm done. `Guess who' got chivalrous and tried undoing the harm with his comment. Guess `Guess Who' is very protective about us gals!

This blog had nearly 30 comments and most of them from Lorna and Guess Who.  
 
They think my blog is like Yahoo Chat or something. Still, if not for them, the comments list would have fizzled out long back. Guess who, if you send me your address, I will send you a free gift.... a song CD, chewing gum or something. What say? Actually, Lorna is dying to meet you and bop you one on the head! She told me to bribe you with the above mentioned items. So do you bite the bait?

My birthday on the 2nd October. I will have a small party and invite our group. I am thinking of some freaky games. If any of you has an idea, please let me know. I want the guests to be soooooo tired by the end of the party, so that they eat little and drink lots of water (which is free!). Any ideas for spot prizes, please send me an email on Ojo_blog@yahoo.com

Wonder what I should order for dinner for the party. I definitely will not have mushroom bhajiya's (Shireen be warned). Also it will be a dry party. No booze in my house and no booze to be brought. There's nothing worse then drunk men/  women screaming at the top of their voices and dancing vague dances on the floor. Not that I have seen any from this group acting drunk. Such gentlemen.... Trevor and James and all of them. Very nice group and such well behaved children. Looking forward to seeing them all again.

You know you're getting older when :    

* Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

* Your mouth makes promises your body can't keep.

* Your idea of a night out is sitting in the balcony.

* You turn off the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.

* You begin every other sentence with, `Nowadays....'

* You have a choice of two temptations and you choose the one which will get you home earlier.

* Everything hurts. And what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.

* Your spare tyre is larger than your car's.

* You often repeat things ...... You often repeat things ...... You often repeat things ......

The entire jing bang went to the beach on Friday evening. My blog has everyone running scared. I actually heard Melvin telling Gracian to be careful of what he says or else it will be on the blog. (Muhaaaaaa! The power of the pen!)
   

Gracian was in his element. All that singing and dancing gave all the Arabian belly dancers a complex. Way to go, Gracian. (An encore on the `Lakshya’ theme song, pleeeeeeeeeease!)
   

   I saw (my sis) Anita playing football with the daddies and kiddies. She ran more than seven miles in those 15 minutes but touched the ball just twice. I’ve just realized, all of you poor poor souls with no sisters, your life must lack entertainment. 
 

 Same game, saw Shireen standing on the boundary line like a pretty advertisement. She was supposed to be in one of the teams, but Anita running helter skelter, flaying her arms must have definitely scared Shireen. (Yes, she looked scared!) But what I think is, she was trying to distract the daddies so that her team could score. Bad try as all the mummies were also watching with eagle eyes  and the daddies were on their perfect behaviour.
   
Meanwhile, Babies Bula and Rachel were having their usual sand bath.

After that rugby type football, we played   Dog-and-the-bone. I was made team captain alongwith Arnold. (That was the only way they could get me out of my seat!). I immediately chose James and Joshua.     (I never loose an opportunity.) Alisha, Olive, Lorna, Varsha and Venessa made up my team. Though we nearly won (which means we lost!), we should have got the prize for making the most noise. I am ashamed to say (* head bowed*) we cheated. It’s Olive’s fault. SHE’S SUCH A CHEAT! Willy and Olly kept having the  same number and I’m tempted to say here they both make a pretty pair (more like twin teddy bears!)  Tee! Hee! Willy managed to give Olly the slip once, but generally Olly’s dives kept us entertained. (Those were the tremors you felt all over the weekend!). Trevor was an honest refreee (not at all partial towards the girls). Bah!
 
Meanwhile, Babies Bulu and Rachel continued with their sand bath. 

The food was fantastic. Willy don’t think I didn’t see you hiding the `Thoom’ (Garlic sauce). Gracian, I saw you stealing Olly’s kabab and Shireen I know you missed your mushroom bhajiya’s. But I also saw you gorging on Lorna’s mom’s potato bhajiya’s with a devil may care attitude. And finally, I saw Baby Bulu drink all of Olive’s cola in one gulp. That baby must have had one wet diaper by the end of the evening.
 

We wished  Vanessa a Happy Birthday at mid-night. Played Antakshri (two teams singing songs) for a bit, and inspite of Gracian’s valiant attempts with bhajan’s (Indian prayer songs) , Kannada songs, Konkani and Malayalam songs, we still won thanks to pro’s like Varsha, Vanessa, Gail, Shireen, Anita and myself. Olly is not worth mentioning. She woke up now and then from some deep, drugged sleep screaming Willy’s name. It worked though. He ended up singing one song. (He still didn’t part with the Garlic sauce!) Lorna, I noticed, was having a continuous hearty laugh and hitting Olly constantly. Thanks to Lorna’s pasting, Olive’s Tennis Elbow must now be Tennis shoulder-arm-elbow-wrist and fingers. 
 

My lists are getting popular. Everyone’s talking about them. (4 people to be precise!)

Things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!

* Why does the sun lighten our hair but darken our skin?

(Has science managed to solve this one yet? Huh?)
 

* Why do they nail down the lid of the coffin?

(My mother-in-law ain’t coming back! Muhaaaaa!)
 

* Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

(They were fourth in line. (If he swatted them, how could he say, `Go forth and multiply?!)

* Why is the third hand on the watch called a `second hand’?

(My DKNY wrist watch has just two hands. (*Throw and clunk!!!) It must have been an imitation!
 

* Why is lemon juice made with artificial stuff and dish washing liquid made with real lemons?

(My turn to provide the drinks next time. Yippeee!!!)
 

* Why is it that no matter what color bath soap you use, the bubbles are always white?

(I’m clean. What’s your reason?)
 

* How come cars go faster than you are allowed to drive?

(Olive is so slow…. But that’s another hmmmmm and another story)

REMEMBER, I'M WATCHING YOU!

To see my Photo Albums, click HERE.

To get an email everytime I update, please click on `BOT THIS BLOG' on the left side menu.

To add a comment, click on the `VIEW/ADD' below.

If ever you've seen a place where the comments are better than the blog itself, this is it. Most of the comments had us rolling on the floor laughing our guts out at home. Thanks all for making me feel so happy and light headed.

Just one more day and then 3 holidays. I think I'm coming down with a cold and a sore throat. We were planning a beach outing on Thursday or Friday. Imagine if I have to miss it. So unfair!

Summer's over in Kuwait. It's now pleasant .... atleast at 7 in the morning and 7 in the evening. Olive goes daily for a walk and a game of basketball. All that effort and  no loss of weight. I think I'm doing the right thing sitting in the stands and looking at the clouds.

For my Photo Albums, please click on the link on the left hand menu, or click HERE.

What list shall we do today (that does not seem like a primary school story writing project of one's brother!)??

Why is it that .....

Why is it that the more you try to be humourous and get a little fun out of life, people get critical and spew funda?

Why is it that whenever you are searching for something (a book, a wallet, a location...) you always find it last?

Why is it that when you've just made yourself comfy on the couch with cushions and sheets, you have to get up because you forgot the t.v. remote in the bedroom.

Why is it that there is a top line on lined paper if we never use it?

Why is it that if something "goes without saying" people still say it?

Why is it that people say, "the alarm is going off" when it actucally is going on?

Why is it that babies produce more spit than adults?

Why is it that whether you sit up or sit down, the result is the same?

I know the blog's dull. I also know the comments will be worth an award.

On Thursday we went to the Beach with Lorna’s family. Only Olly and Lorna’s dad didn’t get into the water. In a way it was good they didn’t…. someone has to look after the food!!! (, I’ve read your comment on the previous blog and as punishment, I WILL NOT COME TO THE FRIDAY MARKET WITH YOU. SO THERE!)
    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         & nbsp;   &n bsp;   
School is so hectic and all memories of our three month’s holidays have been wiped off. We are desperately waiting for the holiday on Saturday. (Looooooooong weekend). Maybe another beach outing is on the cards.
I missed my handsome ….. who must have all but forgotten I existed because of his homework. I can’t even say, `I hate teachers’!

The weather is getting `betterer’ and `betterer’. Who is that fellow who said we should not work and laze around. I think I can safely say, him I hate!  

What to do when….

* What to do when `Mysterious’ men write comments on your blog.
Call  immediately. She’s our `Local Investigator’!
    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp; 
* What to do when you find your bathroom slippers missing.
Call  immediately. She’s hidden them most probably in (her brother) 's car.

* What to do when you start planning an European Holiday.
Call  immediately. Her enthusiastic skiing practice on the linoleum carpet makes you feel you are already on the Alps of Switzerland.

* What to do when you don’t want to hear the dialogues in a serious, scary movie.
Call  over immediately. Mute the television volume and have a rollicking good time whilst Lorna says the dialogues in (what she thinks is) an American accent.

* What to do when you want to eat hard boiled eggs.
DON’T CALL . Remember! She will eat them as you peel them.
    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;       
Have you noticed, without , I may have not had many a blog update. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

The counter tells me hundreds of people are logging on to my blog, but hardly anyone’s putting their comments. Come on people, encourage me a bit here. Be like my friend, Lorna, so loyal and so devoted to my blog. (And so on my side when it comes to taking panga with Olly!! )

Today is September 8^th. Mamma Mary’s Birthday. So a VERY HAPPY FEAST TO YOU. May She bless you, guide you and guard you every single moment.

 
On Tuesday we went to Ikea, the furniture store. Olly gets these urges to go to such places. I hate it, hate it, hate it. She only walks and walks around and touches EVERYTHING possible and acts like she’s really going to buy the entire shop plus the hinges on the door. She ended up buying fish cutting scissors for her Mom. I felt I had walked to Iraq and back. The only place in Ikea I didn’t mind was the living room section. I actually took a 20 minute cat nap on one of the rocking chairs while I knew Olly was touching all the curtains and bed posts and trying out every possible sofa. After all that torture and walking 9000 sq. feet (as the Ikea catalogue tells us is what the Kuwait store’s area is), Olly says let’s go to the park and play basketball. (At this point you can imagine my BIG EYES and SHOCKED EXPRESSION!)  I didn’t even bother to ANSWER that one. I went straight home and ate mutton stew. (I believe swiping off Olly’s famous (!) mutton stew is more punishment for her than a hunger strike!)

It was such a hectic week in school. All those three glorious months of holidays have been forgotten in two days flat. This week we started with the letter, `V’. Most of the kids now write on their own and we teachers feel such pleasure when they learn to write and read.

Olly made chapattis yesterday. More like torn cheddies. All were `V’ shaped with 2 holes. Hee! Hee!
 

Let me end with a few `HOW TO’s’ today :
 

* How to peel boiled eggs : Shut the kitchen door, Hold the egg under a running cold water tap and make sure that Lorna is not around. (…. For the minute you peel them, she’ll eat them.)
 

* How to start a car in winter (where the temp touches 2 deg. C) : Have a hot water bath and send your room mate down to start the car and freeze to death. (Olly I HATE you for this)
 

* How to cook and eat mutton stew : Get Olly to do everything while you sleep. When it’s done and you can hear her washing her hands in the bathroom, slink into the kitchen and serve yourself the best pieces. 

* How to enter late at parties : Arrange with Lorna to take her shopping last minute for gift buying and you will be guaranteed a late entry. 

* How to patao handsome 13 year old boys :  Do what they do (play computer games, play basketball (even if you have never even seen a basket ball in your life,) eat slowly, fidget with mobiles and constantly tell them they are handsome). This will also help patao their handsome daddies. Tee! Hee! (I hope!)
 

* How to steal story books : Go to Trevor’s house, admire his paintings, his décor, his food and when he’s not looking, put 4 big, fat heavy books in your room mates hand bag (so that even if you are caught the blame falls on your room mate)
 

* How to gain weight fast : (This `how to’ is dedicated to Lorna and Anita) : Go to Ikea and walk 9000 sq. feet. After that when your appetite is considerable, go home and eat mutton stew.
 

* How to make round chapaties : Make them `V’ shaped, then take a nice sharp, round tiffin, and cut in shape.
 

Comments or else…………… GROWL!

Two parties this weekend. One was Baby Bula's birthday party and the other was Trevor and Gail's 21st wedding anniversary. For the photographs of the events, please click on the `PHOTO ALBUMS' link  (also on the left side menu.)

Let's begin with Baby Bula's birthday party. She's such a cutie. I had a little too much wine (half a glass actually, which is too much for me!) and can't recall much of what I said, though I do remember laughing a lot. But what I DEFINITELY remember is Shireen (Bula's pretty young mom), constantly hovering around the buffet table and finishing off the appertisers (mushroom bhajiya's!) For proof, click on the `PHOTO ALBUMS' link  (also on the left side menu.) Olly, as always, gets hysterical over nothing (and blames poor Lorna for it.) All in all we had a fun time, especially with James and Trevor cracking a dozen jokes a minute. On the way back we got lost and came across a police check point. I didn't have my Civil Id or any papers on me and nearly fainted with fright. But the Kuwaiti police officer saw my new health card (and my `healthy' countanance) and let us go.

Trevor and Gail's 21st wedding anniversary lunch was good fun too. Once again we got lost on the way to their place and the handsome dashing James had to come and rescue us. (Dad to handsome, dashing 13 year old Joshua). In Trevor's house, Olly saw a stand of books and promptly put four under her arm to take home. I hadn't had any wine so I definitely remember seeing her do this. I hope Trevor has noticed this too.

India is playing England in the Natwest Cricket Tournament and definitely loosing. If India's performance was not so pathetic, it would be funny. So I will still include my blog in the `humor' catogery.

In honour of Trevor and Gail, a few marriage quotes for today :

* Many a man owes his success to his first wife and his second wife to his success. -- Jim Backus

* Ah Mozart! He was happily married - but his wife wasn't. -- Victor Borge

* In the blithe days of honeymoon,
With Kate's allurements smitten,
I lov'd her late, I lov'd her soon,
And call'd her dearest kitten.
But now my kitten's grown a cat,
And cross like other wives.
O! By my soul my honest Mat,
I fear she has nine lives. -- James Boswell, Life of Johnson

* One survey found that ten percent of Americans thought Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.... -- Robert Boynton

* Better to have loved a short man than never to have loved a tall. -- David Chambless

* Marriage is like a bank account. You put it in, you take it out, you lose interest. -- Irwin Corey

* A man's wife has more power over him than the state has. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

To add your comments please click on `View/Add' below.

For my blog on Sify, please click here

What a fantastic weekend we had. An entire jing-bang  of kids invaded our house on Wednesday to stay over and though many called us brave in having them, we had a rollicking good time. There were the 13 year old’s …. Alisha and the handsome, dashing Joshua. The 10 year olds, Arnold and Janise and the three year old babies, Rachel and Orliana (Bulu is her pet name. And it’s STILL Bulu inspite of Olly constantly calling her `Bula’!)

After a very enjoyable meal of Kentucky Chicken we sat down to play Computer Games. Luckily we have two PC’s, one in the hall and one in the bedroom, so the girls sat in the hall and I took the boys to the bedroom (heh, heh). (I’d never loose an opportunity to hover around Josh!) 

At 2:00 a.m. Olly suddenly decided that we should go to the beach. Only thing is, she did not realize it was 2:00 a.m. and that we didn’t have the Civil ID’s of any of the kids with us. (Kuwait has any number of security check-points on the roads, especially on the weekends and without our Civil Id’s we’d  be in trouble.) So when this very minor issue was brought to her notice, she suggested we play Pictionary. (She can really change….. just like the Kuwait climate!) So we made teams …. Josh and I (heh! Heh!) and Arnold and Janise and the other team had Alisha, Olly and Anita. Ofcourse we were better than they …. So what if they won! Special mention must be made here of Alisha. Man! Can she draw! She was definitely the `man of the match’!

Thursday evening we went to the park to play basketball. All of us piled into Olly’s Chevey van. Alisha, Josh and I were one team and  Olly, Arnold and Janise made up the other team. They won. Olly shot all the baskets. The surprise of it all was that I shot the max baskets for our team…. Me… who had never played basket ball in her entire life. 

Later, all the daddies and mummies came to see their flesh and blood and we all piled ourselves into 3 different jeeps and went to the Fahaheel beach. (That’s like one end of Kuwait.) So it was a nice, long drive. Anita and the boys got themselves completely wet. I wet my ankles and the rest of the party just sat there. After a while, Shireen decided we should play `Antakshri’ and we had a good time singing away. Shireen and Gale have an entire repertoire of songs and were good competition. After a meal of various Arabic sandwiches, provided by James, Trevor and Willy, we left for home. Sigh!

For photographs of the Pyjama party please click here or on the Link on the Left Side Menu

Before I forget, let me give you the full form of I.N.D.I.A. = I Nearly Died In Adoration. So won’t you say that INDIA is the most romantic country of all!!

* Willy, I have a message for you. I could not say ka ka kee ki koo kkeee. So I guess I failed the Monkey certification exam.

* Anita, Olly and I are really grateful to you for constantly changing Bulu’s pampers.

* LORNA, WE REALLY MISSED YOU. 

And for today…. Twisted Greeting Card Messages

1) I must express my gratitude for such a lovely gift.
Your thoughtfulness and taste is matched only by your thrift.
It's clear that you spared all expense, if you catch my drift.
Remove the anti-theft device when you again shoplift.

2) We're sorry you now mourn the loss of your beloved cat.
For if we had only braked in time, it wouldn't be so flat.

3) It's Christmas time, and once again, the family's gathered 'round.
Uncles, aunts, and cousins come to raise a joyful sound.
All that is, except for you, whom we can only send this mail.
But we'll save your gifts for fifty years till you get out of jail.

4) This Christmas time I give to you a book that isn't mine.
So give it back before it's due or I'll have to pay a fine.

If you can add to this, you’re most welcome.

Please leave a comment (it encourages me.)

First things first…. For all of you who love me and/or my blog, please BOT THIS BLOG. Just click on `Bot this blog’ on the right side menu bar and you will be automatically informed whenever I update the blog. 

Yesterday we went to Rita and James’ house for the birthday of their little daughter, Rachel. She turned three. Such a doll. Actually Olly & I gate crashed. But the delight in their eyes on seeing us has convinced us to move in with them. That’s the reason we have told James to drop his kids off at our house today so that they can formally adopt us.

As soon as we arrived there, Olly decided to play table tennis with Joshua (Little Rachel’s handsome 13 year old brother) All we could hear inside was Olly’s voice, screaming away to glory, and for a heart stopping moment at the beginning I thought that Saddam was at James’ back door. 

It was a fantastic cake. We were polite enough to eat just a little bit, although we’d have thrown politeness aside and eaten more if Lorna was not sitting besides us with some kind of dangerous glint in her eye.
 

I had the best time with Joshua. Olly got hysterical with all the laughing and was no use at all so I ignored her. Lorna was trying to compete with me and impress Joshua with witty remarks …. atleast SHE thought they were witty. Olly certainly thought so because, remember I said she was laughing hysterically. But at that point of time, Olly was hysterical so her opinion doesn’t count. Lorna’s `witty’ remarks  didn’t have much of an effect on Josh.  I had just about got Joshua to propose to me but I ruined it at the last minute. When he was about to sit, I placed a medium sized balloon on the seat. Tee! Hee! That was that for `Catch them young and watch them grow.’

With love and romance on my mind, here’s what I’ve got for you today. The most Romantic Countries in the world :

H.O.L.L.A.N.D. - Hope Our Love Lasts And Never Dies.

I.T.A.L.Y. - I Trust And Love You.

L.I.B.Y.A. - Love Is Beautiful; You Also.

C.H.I.N.A. - Come Here.. I Need Affection.

B.U.R.M.A. - Between Us, Remember Me Always.

N.E.P.A.L. - Never Ever Part As Lovers.

C.A.N.A.D.A. - Cute And Naughty Action that Developed into Attraction

E.G.Y.P.T. - Everything's Great, You Pretty Thing!

M.A.N.I.L.A. - May All Nights Inspire Love Always.

P.E.R.U. - Phorget Everyone... Remember Us.

T.H.A.I.L.A.N.D - Totally Happy. Always In Love And Never Dull. 

As always, if you can add to it please do so. Especially the full form of I.N.D.I.A.

Jai Hind!
 

Catch you on Saturday.

Today’s blog is once again dedicated to Lorna. Why? Because the poor thing took the trouble of writing a whole lot of comments but there was some problem in the site and the comments didn’t save. Dedicated friends always get dedications from me.

I’ve received an oh-so-cute comment from 14 year old April from Bahrain. What a lovely name. Reminds one of summer showers  and budding flowers. April says they WERE thinking of going to Bangkok. I bet my life that they have read about my Bangkok experience with the `keedas’ and have now changed their mind. My convincing powers amaze me. Please do read her comments. She has also added some more contradictory proverbs. Good ones too.

School re-opens on the 4^th of September. (Remember I’m a teacher). Luckily my charts to put up in the class are all ready. I felt my holidays are over too fast this time. Sometimes even three months are not enough (… to laze.)

Everyone’s asking Olly and me to loose weight. Easier said than done. That’s the reason why we’ve come up with a few weight loss strategies :

1. Don’t buy cakes and chocolates. Buy fruits. We don’t like fruits, so we won’t eat them. We loose weight.

2. Go outside even if you are the homely type. `Outly’ is better to loose weight. Goes without saying, don’t use your car. Use the Number 11 bus. i.e. your legs.

3. Get an active hobby like washing your car, the neighbours car, the lorry parked below your house etc. etc.

4. Get depressed. Think negative. Crib, crib, crib.

Today's blog is specially dedicated to those who insisted I continue with my blog. As for Lorna, who acually has added my blog to her `Favourites' List, meri jaan, you're my favourite too.

So much has happened in these last few months. Politically, Saddam was captured and we now all leave in a peaceful Kuwait without having tensions about keeping a handbag packed and ready in case we have to run to the airport at the last minute. (Phew! What a long sentence)

On the personal front, i had 3 glorious months school holidays. Went to India and Bangkok with Olly. Both of us reached Bangkok with a terrible cold and high fever. The only place we visited was, `The Calypso'. It's a transvestite cabaret show. It was fantastic.... the lighting, the smoke, the dances, the costumes. Breathtaking reallY!

We stayed in an area called, Pratunam. It's good for shopping and the Panthip Plaza, which sells computer stuff was just across the street. Burning with fever and in the rain, Olly kept dragging me there to buy heaven knows what software. I even cried, but she didn't believe me saying it was just rain drops on my face.

They fry `keedas' in Bangkok! Yes!  They do and you can buy them to eat. We went off food after seeing that and for the last two days survived only on coconut water and leechees.

All in all, it was still a fun time because we got the opportunity to see a new country. And two things really impressed me the most in Bangkok. One is that there is NO FAT THAI. Believe you me. They are all skinny... from the king to the chaprasi. And it's all the more hard to believe because they are constantly eating deep fried stuff. The second thing that impressed me was that they always use straws to drink anything. Cola, mineral water, strange herbal stuff from plastic bags... anything. THey use a straw. Nice people though. They don't stare, don't pass comments and generally don't understand a thing we say.

It's buring hot in Kuwait this time of the year. 48 deg. Cent. So we are stuck in most of the time. We have a new Panasonic DVD player and Home Theater System (HTS-850) so we spend a lot of time watching movies with heavy Cinema effects. Watched this verrrry funny movie day before. You must watch it too. (After I remember the name and post it on the blog!) Nyah!

If I don't get any comments, I'm off the blog again. So be good and write in a few lines of encouragement.

Before I end, check these great one liners.....

1) I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.

2) Your future depends on your dreams .... So go to sleep !

3) Living on Earth may be expensive...
but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun..

4) Should women have children after 35?
No, 35 children are enough

5) If it's true that we are here to help others, then, what exactly are the others here for?

6) War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left.

7) If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

8) As I said before, I never repeat myself.

9) Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.

10) I've got to sit down and work out where I stand.

Our weekend hols so see you next week.