LIFE AS IT IS

Morning view from living room window - fall leaves falling like rain. 

The sign outside the gym door says that children are not allowed inside. But I pretend I cannot read English when I hit my proximity card key fob on the gym door to allow me in. Why? Because I have no other choice but to ignore this particular sign.  When my husband is at work, there is no one at home I can leave my toddler with. But does that mean I cannot workout out every day or at least a few times a week. Won't that be unfair to a full-time mum  who wishes to stay fit and healthy? Well, I certainly think it will be.  Photo: Google Images I have never noticed if there are hidden close circuit TV cameras inside the gym, but even if there are, the property managers either do not monitor them regularly, or pretend to ignore the presence of a two-year-old visitor inside their gym. Kindhearted people, I must admit.  The Daily Star My toddler, however, is not nearly as kindhearted as the property managers. She does not care to show compassion to m...

You may find it hard to believe but a plastic bottle takes anywhere between 100 and 1000 plus years to degrade, with an average degradation time of 450 years!  Does this piece of information motivate you to opt for more of  environment-friendly su bstitutes? If yes, then you are treading the  right path, because it is never late to start to do our bit for the  environment.  TAKE YOUR OWN BAG When you go shopping, be it for books, shoes, clothes or groceries, carry your own sturdy, reusable bag, preferably something made from cotton or jute.  CARRY YOUR WATER BOTTLE Instead of purchasing a bottle of water when you are thirsty, carry your own water in a bottle or flask made of glass or stainless steel when you leave home.  DITCH THE STRAW When you order your drink at a restaurant, learn to say, “No straw, please”. Straws are made of plastic and therefore when thrown away are detrimental to environment.  Source: Google Images REUSABL...

If you ever set foot on British mainland, you will note how much the Brits love to use the word “lovely” in their everyday speech. There, the word “lovely” means more than just beautiful or attractive, it is a word that also conveys approval towards a person or their action. On an 8-night vacation in London, I learned, devoured and experienced so many new things that one write-up will not suffice, but I will try nonetheless. The National Gallery A week in London is not enough to fully explore the historic city, which stands on the River Thames and enchants visitors from every corner of the world. London is a cosmopolitan city in a very real sense. According to BBC, over 300 languages are currently spoken in London’s schools. The statistic tells you how unbelievably diverse London really is! London’s food scene is a gastronomic heaven for any foodie, where you can relish an incredibly huge variety of cuisines, thanks to its ethnically diverse population. To enjoy a wi...

Have you ever waited for a friend or an acquaintance so long that you fell asleep? I did. Once I had woken up from a power nap only to find that my guests, who were supposed to grace my humble abode 2 hours’ prior, had not even left their home yet! Perception of time is a complex matter; while to some people, 6 o’clock means 6 o’clock, to others, 6 o’clock is 7:00, 7:30 or even 8 o’clock. Every “deshi” wedding begins at 7:30 in the evening as per the invitation card. No, never. If you ever arrive at a wedding reception at 7:30PM, you will find the entire venue deserted. The uniformed waiters will give you strange looks. The bride and the groom are always late to their own wedding, so are their guests and sometimes, the Mughlai wedding cuisine. At a friend’s wedding in Dhaka, I had waited until 10PM for the food to be served. When the clock struck past 10, because it was getting late, I left the party on an empty stomach that was grumbling loudly enough for anyone standing nex...

The Blue Girl rose plant in my backyard has blessed me with perhaps its last flower of the year. It is such a delight! The plant had almost died last year, but we re-planted it in a different spot where she could get more sunshine. When we almost gave up on its survival, she began to sprout new leaves. Right now, she is 2-feet tall and has already born two unbelievably beautiful lavender roses! Keep making us proud, little girl!