Fashion No-No!

Continuing with my Fashion Preaching, just wanted to reiterate the 10 things to remember in order to avoid being a Fashion Victim. What suits others may not suit you!

1. Age - One should dress according to one's age. This is very important. We have to accept the fact that we all look different at different times of our lives and what looked nice when we were younger may not be suitable at our current age.

2. Shape - Take a hard look at yourself in the mirror and determine your body type which could be influenced by age, dieting, exercising, health, etc. It could be X (hourglass figure-curves), H(boyish figure-straight), O (waist heavy), A (pear shaped - bottom heavy) or V (top heavy).

3. Size -Extra tight or loose clothes is a big No-No. Choose clothes which are your size. Clothes that fit look better...any day. These neither cling tightly nor hang loosely!

4. Accessories - Accessories are an important element in your dressing. Stay up to date with the latest trend but do not go overboard.....keeping it minimum will not hurt!

5. Look - No matter what clothes we are wearing, the look of the garment should be neat & cleaned & ironed!

6. Style - Recognize what style suits you and then stick to it. You could experiment around a bit & then choose which feels comfortable and looks good on you.

7. Lingerie - Do not think that being worn underneath your garments you could get away with any old shapeless underwear! Invest in good lingerie. They should sit right on your body & make you feel good. Make sure that the Bras are the right size & shape! Toss away any shapeless underwear! No point in keeping them for it's not doing the job it's suppose to be doing!

8. Shoes - Ever heard of the saying "Shoes maketh the man"? Shoes could make or break a stunning outfit. So, pay extra attention to your footwear and maintain it from regular wear & tear & dirt!

9. Handbag - The Bag reflects your personality. Choose one which suits you and the outfit that you are wearing and the occasion! For an evening out or for a party, the bag would definitely be different from the one which you would carry to your workplace or for shopping!

10. Confidence - Lastly, the key to looking good & feeling good is to carry oneself with Confidence..........no matter what one wears!

Down memory lane - Allahabad

My Brother's in Allahabad right now....for a few days....to attend a meeting....

Flashback!
My family lived in this city a long, long time ago. This is my youngest brother....he went to his first school here....pre-nursery. How he howled each morning! He literally had to be carried/dragged to school. After a while, he became one of the Teacher's favourite and liked taking flowers for her everyday and would insist on plucking the nicest one from our garden! Often, we had to coax him to choose a not so prized flower!

Another funny thing which happened and which we remember with sweet fondness was how my brother would insist on carrying Dad's briefcase! This was a nice big leather bag, standard Air Force issue for Flyers. It was half his size but insisted on taking this rather than the school bag which was got for him! Mom had to relent...otherwise he was not going to school and there would be the usual rolling on the ground and wailing his tiny lungs out! He literally dragged the bag to school.........it was indeed a funny sight! Only after his Teacher commented on why he was carrying a suitcase did he switch to the school bag!

How time flies........I wonder if he remembers his early days here in this city.....the city which is located at the confluence of the 3 Holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna & Saraswati known as Sangam.

Give Me A Date

I am into Dates....Big Way!......Believe it or Not!

Before coming to the Middle East, the only kind that I knew was the dried, sweet & sticky variety and I was never particularly fond of it. Too sweet for my taste buds!

After coming here, the variety of dates that I have seen.... are unbelievable! Dates have been an important part of tradition within all major religions of the world. It may be considered an almost ideal food for they say it contains a wide variety of nutrients. During Ramadan, traditionally, Muslims usually break their fast by first having a Date.

Dates I'm told undergo 4 stages. In Arabic they are:-
1. Kimri which is the unripe stage.
2. Khalal which is now grown to full size and are crunchy when eaten.
3. In Rutab stage it is fully ripe and soft.
4. Tamr is the last stage which it undergoes when it is riped & sun dried.

Personally, I love my Dates when they are in the second stage - the Khalal stage. They are nice & crunchy and not at all sweet. It has its own taste. I can eat a whole bowl (Big one!) of it while I watch TV or read my book! Unfortunately, I can only enjoy these only during the season...which is for a short period.

Having exposed to the varieties available in the market here, I have started liking the riped and dried Dates too.....Not so much the Plain ones.........but the ones stuffed with almonds, cashews, pistachio, etc. ...as they reduce the sweetness! Actually, I am really nutty for nuts! There are also the chocolate covered dates and these are absolutely delectable!

Everyone says, Dates are a perfect choice for an energy boosting snack.......so, Give Me A Date!

Stylish Fall, Darlings!

For the Fashion Darlings, thought I'll share what's going to be HOT this Fall/Winter....and get you in the mood for the season! These are the 10 things I would look out for!

1. Knit Sweaters - This Fall, whether it's Fine Knit Sweaters or Large Chunky, they are a major sensation. This fashion statement is made to disguise a thousand sins....so show off with Large Oversized knits!

2. Tights - Yes! Tights either solid or ribbed in any color to add spice to your outfit!

3. Statement Coat - The must-have...The New Statement Coat. There's a style to suit everyone from Belted Coats, Naval & Army Coats to Pea Coats....hooded big collared or rounded shoulders. Invest in a coat that brings out the best in you.......it makes the outfit complete!

4. Bomber Jackets - They're perfect with high waist or wide leg pants.

5. Wide Leg Pants - The Wide Leg Masculine Pants are in control & dominating. These breezy Flowy Pants comes in wide range of colors and in luxurious fabrics. This look is about proportions, so while enjoying the luxury of wide leg pants, keep the upper part of your body balanced & flattering with fitted silhouttes.

6. Gray - You guessed it right! Gray is the new Black. You can have it in every shade ranging from icy to the darkest steel and can both look romantic and powerful!

7. Elbow-length gloves - The hand warmers have gone extra long. Not only it looks chic but will also keep away the winter chill. Perfect.... as many of Fall's styles are three quarter lengths.

8. Go Wide - Wide oversized belts, they are hot & they are trendy....accessorizing everything from coats to skirts to shirts and dresses. The idea is to emphasize & define your waist as the center point....balancing the hips & shoulders to give that hour glass figure!

9. Clutches - Grab on to one of these Oversized Clutch that will take you from breakfast to dinner!

10. Boots - This season's Boots have personality..........from Metallic Boots to Fur Coated Boots to gorgeous Leather Boots in styles to please any Fashion Conscious Women!

After all this preaching........I think I need a good Retail Therapy..... very soon!

Yippee! India won!

Yippee! India won!

What? ICC World Twenty20 Final!

Against who? Pakistan!
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Don't mistake my joyous shout of "Yippee!" as a cricket aficionado! To tell you the truth, I do not understand cricket at all apart from the knowledge that there are 2 teams and each takes its turn to bat and bowl. The reason being, I have never found it interesting enough to truely learn the game.....I find the game too slow! Give me Soccer/Football any day!

Due to our 2 countries' history.........this was a match that was looked forward to with bated breath. Everywhere I turned around and saw another Indian or a Pakistani, I could feel the excitement in the air. Some of the guys in the office even applied for permission to leave early........just so that they could watch the match, right from the very beginning....LIVE.

Well, I believe the match was very tense, exciting.........I am told... as I never watched it! Of course, I heard the jubilant shouts at each score, wickets down, from everywhere in the building where I live!

India won by 5 runs! Yesssss!!!!!! Pitted against Pakistan..........the victory is much sweeter!

A walk by the seaside

I enjoy walking......and walking by the seaside...with the wind blowing against my face.....is so invigorating! The vast expanse of the sea.........makes me wonder.....of the unknown beyond and beneath. The air around smells of the seaweed which has been left behind after the high tide.... and is now, slowing turning rotten.

I see a couple of individual Arab women...........the young one, complete in a track suit walking briskly while chatting fervently on her mobile.....the other, older lady in hijab and as she walks, I spy her latest sneakers on her feet.

Then, there's the lone white guy, in shorts & music in his ears cycling away furiously. There are also these young couples strolling by. As I walk, I come across a couple of Ice-cream sellers - the ones on tricycles. Apart from the ice-creams, they also sell water & juices. In addition, there are also a few men just hanging around.... smoking ...watching people go by...

In the distance, I see the Scientific Center which is built right on the waterfront. It also houses the Dhow Harbour and has quite a few of the historic Dhows which are traditional Arab sailing vessels. The place is built in the shape of these Dhows. The view looks wonderful...can't resist....take my mobile phone out and shoot this picture. Beautiful!?

Spider-Mania!

Spiders! Creepy....crawly.........how we........many of us at least.... despise these creatures! Little girls spying one nearby, would run ......screaming eeeeeeekkssssss!!! Not that some adults don't!

However, the funny thing is that Spider-Man, a comic book character that has the ability to cling to walls, has a superhuman strength, a sixth sense ("spider-sense") that alerts him to danger, perfect balance and other spider like abilities webshooters, night vision, etc. is now so popular and commercially so successful unlike the original creature on which it is based!

Spider-Mania has hit us real hard....we all love Spider-Man.....young and old. Kids, whether a girl or a boy, all want to emulate this Super Hero..... like the pictures on the left....one is my niece & the other is my neighbour's son!

The Great Gambler!

Personaly, I never have believed in gambling...never bought a lottery ticket .........as I never thought I could be lucky! While in school, have bought a couple of raffle tickets in aid of charity......but did I win? No!

Then I was in Johannesburg, affectionately known as Jo'burg. The day I landed.......it was a LOTTO day. The Lady with whom I was staying was busy filling out the LOTTO ticket! We don't have the LOTTO in my country............I was fascinated.......and was in the "devil may care" mood! Feeling touristic I guess.....I too decided to fill one..........just for a small amount -Rand 7! Even if I were to lose, no worries. The result would be in a week's time and then...........Yes! I won! I won! Don't ask me how much! I won! "Beginner's luck" that's what, everyone said...........but I didn't care! I got hooked! Till I left, I was playing the LOTTA each week, in the hope of winning the Jackpot!

Then I went to Sun City! Of course, I went to the Casino! I am a Tourist and I needed to experience playing the casino too! I registered....got myself a Sun International card and I played. I played on the 5cent slot machine.... my first ever........and I was just beginning to get the hang of it..........when it was time to head back to the city....Jo'burg. I guess one tends to get addicted to it.....you always feel, the next one...........you would hit the Jackpot! You lose....and then you win......and then you lose....and then lose.........and then lose.....

In Jo'burg, I went to Monte Casino. This is a huge place! Restaurants, cinemas, shops, accomodation, gaming area............Being here, one wouldn't know if it is day or night. It's open 24 hrs! I saw the smoke filled area where Blackjack, Baccarat and other such games with Big stakes were played. It was fascinating....but I just stayed with my 5cent limit in the slot machines! Of course, I jumped from one machine to another but Lady Luck eluded me!

I also visited the Gold Reef City. The complex consists of a theme park, museum & casino facilities. It's again open 24 hrs and has a wide varity of gaming choices. Me, just stuck on with my 5 cent slot machines!

It's been a wonderful experience..........but I now realise my potential........... I could turn out to be The Great Gambler!

A Stranger's Just a Friend You Haven't Met?

Someone told me long ago........and I read it too, somewhere.....
"A Stranger's just a friend you haven't met." This is partly true, I would say.

I remember in my school days, it was a craze to have Pen Pals. I too had a couple and through many letters & photographs exchanged, they would come live to me and were no longer strangers....... they were my friends. Now, even in my day to day work life, I deal with people who actually I haven't met but through emails........sometime non-work related.. just venting out our frustrations........ chat over the phone......we are friends....... and not strangers!

Yes, sometimes.....through words.....writen or spoken....one can reach out.... A Stranger then.....remains no longer Stranger!

Happy Birthday, Brother!

Today is my youngest brother's birthday. He is a grown man now....has a sweet wife & 2 adorable daughters. He runs his own NGO, a creche and an orphanage........he is a responsible person. To me though, he will always be my little brother. I have always felt the need to look out for him.... from the people who would take advantage of him....advise him on how to run things.... and so many other small things.... just like when he was a little kid. There's a song that I remember we were taught in school.......

"Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older, when did they?
When did she grow to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall?
I don't remember growing older, when did they?"

Yes, it's so true........I don't remember growing older.........
"Happy Birthday, Brother!"

If you want to get to the top,........

Having worked in many companies........ organizations......I do know first hand what people do / can do..... just to reach to the next level.

Apart from the obvious method.........being a "Yes" person, there are other subtle ways people employ to get into the good books or into the view of the Management. Some have taken up to smoking so that they could do their networking in the "Smoke Room"......... our office area being "Non Smoking". Some insist on running down to "Starbucks" each time they see the "Boss" going.....pretending that they too desperately need to have a "Latte" or a "Frappachino" to get the next brainwave?..........inspite of the fact that we have a "Tea Boy" who serves us tea/coffee on our desk at regular intervals! Some, if the "Boss" is sitting late.....make sure that they too are hanging around!

Yes! If you want to get to the top, one has to be prepared to kiss a lot of the bottom!

Ramadan Kareem!

Today is the start of the Holy month of Ramadan here in the Middle East. For one whole month, Muslims would be fasting during the day and eat only in the evening. All the Food Joints & Restuarants are closed from morning till dusk. No one is allowed to eat or drink in public and if anybody is caught, the person would be fined and jailed. Offices & schools have shorter days due to the fasting and all Lunch Break has been done away with.

Our office is now from 9.00am till 3.00pm. Still it's quite a long period to be working with no food, tea/coffee or even water. What I do not understand is that why the Non Muslims have to be subjected to the fasting here in the Middle East? (One can only eat in the privacy of one's home....but as we are working outside, we invariably are fasting too! ) There are Muslims too in the rest of the world. They are also observing the Holy month.....but for the rest, it's like any other day.

I wish all Muslims "Ramadan Kareem!" which means "Have a generous Ramadan!"

My Feet

I love my feet! They never disappoint me. Whenever I have shopped for footwear, I know exactly what size I am looking for. All these years they have remained at one constant size and that is Size 36!

The constant apprehension that I feel when I shop for clothes........ whether my size had increased or whether I would look fat in it...........is absent....when I go to a Shoe Shop!

Dress Policy

Our Company's Retail Group is divided into - Fashion & Footwear (where I work), Health & Beauty and Food & Beverage. However, surprisingly it has always been the Fashion & Footwear Division which has been receiving memos on the "Dress Policy" only!

The earliest that I have managed to get hold of, dates back to July 2000.
This states that the Company Owner has "kindly agreed that the business could implement a "dress down" policy..... male employees no longer need to wear jackets and ties..........however we do ask that all staff dress in accordance with the local cultural sensitivities and adhere to the following............
1. Sat to Wed - No denim should be worn.
2. Sat to Wed - No sleeveless clothing or round neck T-shirts should be worn.
3. Sat to Wed - No "trainers" should be worn.
4. On visits to our Partners outside.......dress mirror....of the Partner.......when in doubt........ FORMAL.
Your co-operation...................."

Then again in June 2005 another memo is sent to all F&F Personnel.
"Whereas, the Company.............with immediate effect........adopt a SMART casual image or FORMAL business attire.
For men - long sleeve or short sleeve flat woven shirts (with or without tie) trousers or chinos but not denim jeans. Business shoes and not trainers or sandals.
For women - long sleeve or short sleeve blouses/shirt, trousers or skirts or dresses are allowable. However vests, singlets "Strapy tops" or denim jeans should not be worn. Court shoes or sandals should be worn, however flip-flops and trainers should not be worn.
National dress is allowed.
Thursday remains as "dress down" day."

One would think from these memos which is so explicit....all would be adhering the dress code... but no....this is not so. For a couple of girls who insist on wearing "boob tubes" (beat that! in the Middle East! in office!) or strappy tops displaying their ample assets and who would distract the men whenever they pass by...............all have to put up with such memos & reminders!

We had another reminder.........sometime last year. The Managing Director wrote "It is becoming increasingly more difficult..........to distinguish "Dress Down Thursday" from any other day! (Nothing to do with dementia) The dress code......is BUSINESS DRESS....How come I see it and you don't? There is company policy.....as senior management you are responsible for implementation......Over to you."

What I would like to say, is that if the dressing of some is unsuitable to the cultural environment even after repeated memos & reminders, rather than the whole lot of us being subjected to......... they only should be given the memos which would make them realise what is expected of them in terms of dressing for work. Secondly, being in the Fashion Business, I do not see why we cannot wear denim on weekdays. One could be smartly dressed in Jeans & a shirt or a top/blouse. It depends on how one wears it. We are not in Hospitality Industry..........so the Business Dress does not make sense to me at all! Over to you!

Seeing "Lucy" in Addis

A group of us travelling from Johannesburg missed our respective connecting flights in Addis Ababa.............. and so we had no choice but to stay the night in Ethiopia. We were put up at the Hilton. Thank God! At least the stay would be clean, comfortable & safe!

The next day we had ample time to take in the sights of the city as our respective connecting flights was only late in the evening. After breakfast, Anne, a Norwegian girl who was on the same flight and I decided to take a walk down to the Ethiopian National Museum which was not so far away. I'm glad we did. The weather was lovely and the conversations along the way was very enlightening.

The Museum houses numerous relics and archaeological artifacts from prehistoric times but of course the most famous is the 3.5 million year old skeleton of "Lucy" which is supposed to be the oldest hominid ever discovered. This is housed at the basement.........probably for better protection? It was an awesome sight coming face to face with someone who lived millions of years ago.

Only that........... what we saw was just the cast/replica/copy of the real one. The real "Lucy" is safe in a lab.........somewhere in Addis.

My Adjustable Diet!

After coming to the Middle East, my weight which had been pretty constant till then, soon saw a steady rise on the scales and before I knew, my clothes which I had lugged all the way from home and for which I had paid "Extra" at the Airport now were all beginning to burst at the seams!

It was so steady.............I assure you.......I love clothes and good clothes......and being in the Retail Business........and Retail Therapy being so good for my soul.........new clothes were bought in new sizes and before I knew.......wham! it just hit me..........My Levi's jeans.........not one or two but seven or is it eight? from home were not zipping up! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I know I must exercise.........but where is the time?????? I never exercised back home....and was not fat.....why am I putting on weight here in the Middle East? Am I eating too much? I think I should go on a diet.....still thinking.......Meanwhile I'm onto M.A.D, My Adjustable Diet..........when I'm not hungry (as I'm snacking) .............I'm on a diet!

PS:- I was told living in a new country for the first time makes a person put on weight..........it would be ok after a while. I hope this is true for my sake! What I gained in 2nd year, I've lost quite a bit..........but still need to shed some from the wrong places! Help!

Inshallah! (God Willing)

I call for a Taxi.....I need to reach some place at an appointed time.........I don't want to be late. I ask whether he could be here in half an hour.......ample time for him to reach my place. The Taxi guy does not answer with a "Yes", instead it is "Inshallah" which means "God willing". If he is late?............well, who should I blame? HIM?!

The internet facility in my building.....erratic....and real slow....it's quite frustrating....I need to have my own connection......I go to my mobile phone service provider....to get a internet connection through bluetooth......they provide me with a new SIM card....I pay up. For the setting? .....will it get connected automatically? activation? how?... I need to know....

"It's not my job. Go to NOKIA", they tell me.
"Will the guys in NOKIA help? Will they do it?" I ask.
"Inshallah!" is all that I get.

Don't understand why I should go to NOKIA? What has NOKIA got to do with the connection? All the same I go to a NOKIA store, no choice. There, I'm told that it's got nothing to do with them! I go back from where I got the connection.....by now I am real upset.........now they say it would take 24hrs to get activated until then they cannot check.....why did they ask me to go to NOKIA in the first place? Such pudding heads!

I want to scream......being proper, I did not.......instead I exhale.......I walk away.........will just have to wait...till tomorrow......."Inshallah!"

Brevity is the soul of wit?

They say, "Brevity is the soul of wit" but being brief is not the same as being too short. You may ask why I'm pondering on this saying. Well, this morning I happened to text (SMS) my brother. It goes like this.

Me - " Hi. Did you get 2read my mail and see my Blog?"
My Bro - "Yes"
Me - "So? You could have one 4 your NGO."
My Bro - "OK"

Arrrrrrrgh! This is so frustrating. I expected one whole sentence! I know, I know, "Yes" & "OK" can be termed as sentences on their own but..............This is not the first time my brother has done this to me!

Am I asking for too much?

The Pursuit of Happyness

I just got to watch the film by this title on the DVD.........based on Christopher Gardner’s true, rags to riches story. It was quite touching and the story is real inspiring........what one can achieve if one is determined.

The movie stars Will Smith playing Gardner & his real life son Jaden as Gardner's son. The film tells us of the many challenges that Will faces while caring for his son as a Single Parent while pursuing an Internship with a Stock Brokerage Firm.

And yes, it’s so true… Happiness is what we can only pursue…we can never have it.....it’s made of fleeting moments...........and we should enjoy these moments.

Kuwait

It is in Kuwait especially that racism is prevalent openly and encouraged by the citizens who are really proud (of what? Heaven Knows) and think that they are the best in the world. The oil boom in the 50s saw that all citizens are provided extensively – free education, free healthcare and a guaranteed monthly salary! Over and above, they can take all kinds of loan and then have their Ministers in the Parliament pleading that the Citizens’ Loan be written off! ....Loans which were taken for buying luxury cars or going for a vacation to exotic places!

....sorry, got side tracked...coming to the topic in discussion....so you can see why the locals are so proud....all work is being done by the Expat workers while they lead an easy life! Therefore they think they are the Masters and the Expats are the servants! Majority of the workforce is from Asian countries where labour is cheap...........the domestic workers, public cleaners, drivers, shop assistants, etc. These are the people who are treated the worse! Even amongst the Arab nationals they categorize and look down upon those coming from the poorer countries....and are here trying to earn & make some savings! So much for equality....