Day 30-2011 : A Nomadic Month

We are already at the fag end of the first month of this year!  Time is flying!

This month was full of hectic travel, largely on the personal front, but also for work.  The month started with me and the family flying back to Mumbai from Ahmedabad where we spent the last week of December and brought in the new year.  The very next day, we drove down to Pune.  Priya and the kids were going to spend the week at her mother's place and I was left to fend for myself in Mumbai for the week.  Life without wife; for a week!

I did get through the week by spending most of the time at work.  Food was on 'Delivery' mode, from a few restaurants nearby.  End of the week I travelled to Goa for an offsite meeting spanning the weekend.  An early morning flight (5 AM!) after a late night the previous day set the tone for the offsite.  The first day of the offsite was hectic and very productive.  The evening was spent having dinner on the beach along with some enthusiastic singing (mostly Amitabh Bachchan / Kishore K songs!) by the gang.  Some of the gang carried on the drinking on the beach after the dinner till very late in the night.



Sea food on offer @ Goa; none for me though!

The next day, after attending the reminder of the sessions at the offsite, myself and a few others were on our way back.  The others, of course were staying for the night as well, which I had to miss, as I had to pick up

the family from Pune on Sunday.  Hence I was back in Mumbai and on my way again to Pune the next day.  The highlight of this trip was opportunity to meet Rajee, Ashwath and Anjali, who are here for a vacation from Estonia after a long time.  We dropped them at Panvel on our way back from Pune.

@ Pune with the family. 

Lastly during the middle of the month, all of us went back to Ahmedabad for Rashmi's Seemantham.  A rush rush affair this time.  But it was great to see a lot of people in the family make it to Ahmedabad for the ceremony.

The Seemantham ceremony @ Ahmedabad.

It is said that whatever you do on the first day of any year, you are bound to keep repeating it throughout the year.  Though I am not a great believer of such superstitions, the evidence so far in January suggests that it might just be true.

Take care.

Day 103 - Here, There & Everywhere...

This last week has been really hectic.  At work and otherwise.  Even the weekend has been the same.  The reason:  Too many conflicting priorities and pulls.

1) Have to plan to be in Chennai as soon as possible to complete the formalities of the house sale.

2) However, the next week (and the one after that!) is very busy at work. Can't spare even a day except for this Friday.

3) However, Friday is Priyanksh's second birthday and I want to be at home with him.

4) Am looking to buy a house in Mumbai, however cannot move forward unless I complete the Chennai sale!

5) Amongst all of this, I have to be in Pune next weekend.

How do I go about resolving this maze of priorities?  Prioritize, some would say.  How to prioritize when all of the above are equally important, and more importantly, inter-linked?

While my small little brain struggled with matters of such great significance, I did visit the MCHI Property Exhibition at BKC on Saturday.  The real estate market sure has hit boom time by the looks of the crowd that was in attendance at the fair.  Bad news for me.  However, I think the trick here is to look for good value for money properties after cutting through the hype. 

Did the same on Sunday.  Took off to Girish's place to look at various properties in Thane.  Was dead tired by the end of the day; more so due to the blatant hard sell of the lady broker accompanying us rather than anything else.

I expect the next few weeks to be equally tiring and busy.

Take care.

Day 46 - All over the place

The response, both, online and offline, that I have got after my last post has been phenomenal.  Everyone has been very supportive and encouraging.  My heartfelt thanks to all of them, as this support will only increase my resolve.

I was in dull and depressing London again last week.  The hotel made it even worse.  Bad service can make the best of brands seem the worst.  

However, there were a lot of bright spots during the week.  I was in London to be part of some workshops which were very successful, including the team drinks on Thursday!  The session with Arshan, Mayank & Pratik on Wednesday was good as well.  Went to Browns at Shoreditch.  We got out of the place before Mayank's eyes could pop out of their sockets.  The best evening out was on Friday, when I caught up with Grant for a drink and then had dinner with Navin.  To top it all off, I was upgraded to First by BA on my way back!

Landed in Mumbai on Sunday early morning, where confusion reigned as usual at the airport.  This time the cause was confusion amongst immigration and airline officials on which version of the landing cards to fill!  So, after spending time filling out multiple versions of it, I finally made my way home.

Drove to Pune via the expressway in the afternoon on Sunday inspite of the jet lag.  Wonderful drive!  Was back at home after dropping in-laws at Pune in a grand total of 7 hours; door-door-door!

By the end of it all, couldn't wait to doze off.....take care.