Feeling unloved? Head to an English Farmers' Market

"How much are those cherries for?"

"2 quids a box, love."

"And tomatoes?"

"A pound for a pound, darling."

I was just a week old in Reading, England, when I went shopping at a farmers’ market. I was aghast and gawked for a moment. The prices didn't register....what rang in my ears was the 'darling' bit. How could he? I gave him a withering look and moved on to the next stall. 'What do you want, love?' Here too, the conversation followed the same pattern. I was rattled. Then mercifully, another lady came along and she got 'loved' and 'darlinged' the same way and so did the third. None of them took any affront and went right ahead choosing their cucumbers and tomatoes. So it wasn't just me after all! I stepped back and observed the conversations. I noticed that 'love', 'darling', 'sweetheart' and 'honey' were pouring down as thick and fast as the English rain. All shopkeepers, whether male or female, addressed their customers with these affectionate words.

In due time, I got used to the fact that English say these words in a similar vein as Gujaratis use 'ben'/'bhai' and Kannadigas say ''ma'/'pa'. In fact, 'ben' and 'bhai' are so inherent to Gujarati language that a husband doesn't bat an eyelid when addressing his wife as a certain 'ben'. These appendages are just a way of addressing and should be taken with a pinch of salt. Slowly, I got used to being addressed as 'love' and 'darling' in such markets and shops and never took them literally. The only grouse I nursed now was against my husband to whom I complained jokingly that I was called 'darling' and 'honey' much too often by shopkeepers than by my own husband. This time, it was my turn to get a withering look!

So if you find yourself on English shores and feel a need for love, head to a farmers' market where love is always in the air. You will sure feel loved. There’s a hitch though. Farmers' market happens only on certain days of the week. If you want love on any other day, you better look for alternatives. 

This post was published as a middle in 'Right in the Middle' section of Deccan Herald.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/465431/looking-love.html

Confusions of a new mom

Dated: Sometime in April, 2010

Advise, comments, opinions abound.
Mired in the sea of gyaan from books, paediatrician, google, baby centre, real life experiences, other moms, my mom and who not!

What is a good start to solids?

Should fruits or veggies be the first in line? Should citrus juices be given or not?

Should fat be given? How much? What about salt and sugar?

Should I feed her only organic stuff?

How do I ensure that food from all the food groups has been fed on a daily basis?

Are her nutritional requirements being met?

How do I know if I am feeding enough? How many meals should be given and how frequently?

Apart from health issues, apparently emotional and psychological angle has also to be taken care of.

If  I don't give her sugar in the first year, will she not develop a taste for it later on?

If  I give her bland food which she doesn't like, will she get turned off from food all her life?

If I force feed her, will she be put off from food?

If I don't insist on her finishing meals, will she get a wrong message? More important, will she get her nutrition?

It looks like a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't!

God save the new mom :)

Singapore Sojourn - The Merlion Story

My aha moment came when I was researching Singapore attractions. Merlion was a must-visit, they said. Merlion.......now what could it be? I deciphered the word and there it was....mer and lion. (Ain't i clever!)  
A creature with the head of a lion and body of a fish. Pretty much like a mermaid which has an upper body of a maiden and tail of a fish. Incidentally, as Merlion is the icon of Singapore, Mermaid is an icon of Copenhagen. I wonder if there are any more varieties of mers? 

Now that the mystery behind Merlion was solved, there seemed another logical connection. The word Singapore seemed to be made up of "singh" (lion) and "pur" (city). Trust Brits to anglicise "pur" as "pore" (Jaipur - Jaipore). Singapur literally means a city of lions. Here comes the story behind the name. Once upon a time, there was a Javanese prince. When he landed on this island, he spotted a strange creature and was told that it was a lion. So he named the city as Singapura.
However, in ancient times, this city was called Temasek (sea town). 

The symbol of Merlion was designed by one Mr. Brunner, for the logo of Singapore tourism board. It commemorated both the names - lion ( from Singapura) and the sea ( from Temasek). Since then, Merlion has become an icon of Singapore. 

When we first visited the Merlion Park at One Fullerton, it was late in night. By the time we were ready to shoot our customary Patel shot, the Merlion just dried up. Yes sir! He declared himself to be tired and stopped gurgling water. Imagine a tourist with his mouth agape, standing at a perfect angle, all ready for his next FB cover picture, when the lion calls it a day. We never knew that the Merlion too retired at nights. Anyway, without the water, the shots would have been incomplete and our whole Singapore experience would have been questioned. So we decided to make it on another day. By the way, someone please tell the Singapore tourism board that they need to do a better job with the pipe in Merlion's mouth. It's unaesthetic and plain unSingaporean. And while they are at it, a good scrub in the front wouldn't be amiss.

The next time we made it to the Merlion was on the 9th day of our 9 day trip. We had gone to watch a 6D show at the Flyer and then decided to walk till the Merlion. It was a hot day and by the time we reached Esplanade, we got so exhausted  that D suggested to shoot pictures from there itself and be done with it. I gave in to practicality and took a few snaps. But then, the Merlion was too small and we were too big. So like a true tourist, I decided not to be lazy and earn my 'been there, done that" moment by walking till the Merlion. 

The place was crowded and we had to wait for our turn to take shots. I never thought I would fall in the trap of posing for the "drinking from the Merlion" shot but when a tourist, do as tourists do and so I did try to give it a shot. D can't be trusted with such shots and the proof lies in the pudding. There goes water right behind me!

In his defence, it was mind-bogglingly hot, a toddler was to be constantly monitored and a stream of tourists had to be contended with.

Merlion stops spouting water between 11 pm and  6:30 am. We saw the Merlion both in night and in daytime. Both have their charms but I am glad we went again during daytime because my night photography is not upto the mark. 

I chanced upon this fun-manual on the internet.

I think I have tried the second pose.

Well, again I didn't do a great job in supporting the leaning tower but I did try :) Also, the picture is from the pre-digital era where we did not have the luxury to take as many shots as we fancied. (Note for my Mom and didi: I found this picture within 30 seconds after I commenced my search. Hence proved, my house is not that cluttered!).

Referring to the manual, I have been in the 1st and 7th situations too, but never tried those poses. Will definitely refer to this guide if I visit any of the above attractions now! 

For the record, there are four other official statues of Merlion in Singapore. The original one comes with a cub, facing the other side in the park. The third is at Mt. Faber. 

The fourth at Sentosa.

This is not a horizontal one. Try as I might, I am not able to post this picture upright! So there:) 

And the fifth is near the tourism board office.

So whenever you reach the shores of this interesting country, choose the Merlion you want to hang out with. My vote goes to the one at One Fullerton.