Preeti Shenoy's Blog, page 73

What is happiness? A picture post. Blog marathon post 4

 

 Happiness is a hug from someone who loves you unconditionally!!















 
                          Happiness is a bunch of white lilies blooming in your garden.













Happiness is having the time and patience to notice the tiny little details like the spider creeping up, and then capture a picture of it.  (Photo by my son Atul)











Happiness is the gift of an amazing morning sky on your walk.













Happiness is an animal trusting you enough to come up to you and go to sleep in your lap, while you read a book.



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Why comments on Accents are rude. Blog marathon post 3.

We all have accents when we speak a certain language. Even if you are a native speaker of the language, the way you speak it will depend largely on the area where you spent most of your childhood years (over which you have no control ), when you first learnt to speak the language. This is true not just of English (there are so many English accents, based on which part of UK you are from), but of other languages as well. For example, a person from North Kerala will speak Malayalam in a completely different way from the one from South kerala. I am sure it is same for other languages too.



I find comments about accents rude. Even if the person who comments, did not mean it that way. (In fact, most people do not even consider it rude. They probably think it is an ice-breaker --who knows!). I especially find it rude/irrelevant/tiresome (depending on what state of mind I am in) when people try to guess where I am from, based on my accent.



When we meet a person for the first time, imagine if we made a comment based on their appearance and tried to guess their age..'Oh , I spot a few wrinkles--are you 35?' .  Or if we tried to guess their weight based on their appearance-- 'You have a slight pot-belly. Is your weight 85 kgs?' 



If the above is considered rude, why is it any different for accents? 'You speak with a Bihari accent. Are you from Bihar?' or 'You speak with a south-Indian accent. Are you from Chennai?'

I also dislike 'Accent snobs'. (people who make a judgement or think they are superior because of their accents).



I have had people telling me they find my accent sexy. I have also had people gushing things like   'howwwww  I loooove your accent'. Then I have had people telling me 'I can't quite place that accent. Where it it from?' (If you haven't heard me speak and want to know what I sound like, you can click on this link ). If I were to get Rs.100 for each time a person made a comment about my accent, I think I would be a multimillionaire by now.



Frankly, I  am tired of it. My response to that is always 'I speak six languages'. I do. (which usually leaves the person saying 'wow')



If a person wants to tell you where they are from, they will! Please don't ask! (Or rather, don't ask me!) I usually find it very tiresome to answer the question-- 'Where are you from?'. Some time back I had written a post on it.



Making personal comments is rude! Be it on appearance, be it on clothes, on weight or anything personal. (Of course, it is different between close friends.)



And I do think there is so much more to a person than the clothes they wear and the way in which they speak. There is so much more interesting stuff to talk about--like what they read (if they read) and what their hobbies are, and what is the one thing that keeps them going.



Don't you think so?

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http://preetishenoy.com/

5 ways to make more time to read. Blog marathon post 2.

I read a LOT. I read upto four books at a time. This picture was clicked a couple of days back, and these were the books on my bed-side table. I have finished two of them.



I totally loved Amos Lee--which is a book for children really. It is the diary of this boy whose mom makes him write, when he sits in the loo :)







I loved the spunky Amos and the way the book is written, not to mention the awesome illustrations.





People always ask me how I manage to read four books at a time, when they struggle to finish even one! (The short answer to that would be,  "That is because you haven't tried Preeti Shenoy's books What? Don't look at me like that.. It is the truth you know! .Okay, okay--no more self promotion :)  )



Here are a few things which might help, if you want to get back to the habit of  reading more.



1. Start with stuff that you love: Choose a genre which you really like. If something is your cup of tea, then you are likely to stick with it. Doesn't matter what it is--romance, thriller or even a book for young adults. Start with something that you find interesting and hard to put down--then you are likely to finish it.



2. Set up auto switch off for your phone : Set up a time for your phone, where it switches off automatically and comes on at a particular time the next day. You might find it hard initially to get used to not checking your phone every now and then (how dependent we become on it!). But this will take care of distraction which can cut into your 'sacred time'. (Yes, the time spent for reading is always sacred time)



3.Carry a book everywhere you go : No matter where you go, carry a book with you. While waiting to see someone, while travelling from one place to another, anywhere! If you get fives minutes, open your book, not your phone :P :)



4. Watch less TV: The equation is simple. Books > Television. Less TV means more books. (I do not watch TV at all. Can't stand it. Personally, I think television should be banned)



5.Commit: Commit that you will read one chapter a day..or 50 pages a day. Then stick to that commitment. When you break down the book into smaller chunks, it is easier to stick to it--and before you realise, you would be done with the book. That will give you an incentive to do more..and with books, once you start, you just can't stop.



Good luck--and may you read a LOT!



ps: If you have any tips for reading more, feel free to share in my comment box!

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To Buy my books in India, click here.


To buy my books on Amazon click here.






http://preetishenoy.com/

Blog Marathon time again. Post 1.

Amazon is now in India, and on the opening few days, guess whose book was at No.1?













 I felt so happy and proud about it, I just had to share it here. :) (They have free shipping as a limited period offer. You can also pay cash on delivery and amazing discounts too. Check them out if you haven't already and click here to order  'The Secret Wish list'). I meant to share this a few days back, but somehow got round to it only now.



 Last night, I was going through the archives of my blog, and I realised that starting from 2009 , I have done a blog marathon every year! That is four consecutive years!



For the readers who are new to my blog, a blog marathon is one where you post every single day for 30 consecutive days. Lots of people do it at the start of a month. You can find details and themes in this link  if you want to do one and are new to it or if you want to do it but do not know what to write about.



As for me, I do it as a challenge. I like to push myself when it comes to writing. And of course, I love you guys who read me, subscribe to my posts, buy my books and and leave me such wonderful comments. I feel wonderful about the kindness that I have been shown here.



How can I not do a blog marathon? :)



  At my book events, many people walk upto me and tell me that they look forward to my
posts every single day, and that my blog was what kept them going in
their dark days.It is humbling and deeply moving to hear that
my words make such a difference in someone's life.





I also have got used to people recognizing me now. Many times, when I go out, people have recognized me, walked upto me and told me how much they love my books/blog/writing, clicked a pic with me or taken a signature on my books if I happen to  be at a book-store. So I have kind of got used to it. (and I really do not mind posing for pictures! :) )



But yesterday, someone recognized Satish :) That was a first.  He posted about it on his FB and this is what he posted:









It made me think how much my life has changed , from when I first began blogging. I had got into it, not knowing where it would take me--and what a ride it has been. Looking back, I realise the huge amount of time that I have spent on my blog with no monetary rewards whatsover. I have got several offers for advertising on my blog, several offers for mentioning a certain product in my posts, and also offers for many marketing tie-ups. I have turned all of them down.



For me, my blog remains  'my special place' and my connect with my readers is emotional. This blog shall always remain ad-free. And straight from the heart.



I am happy to be read, happy to be loved, and most of all, happy to make a difference in your lives.



See you all tomorrow and if you are happy about my  blog-marathon, take a moment and let me know in the comments please :) Helps me to keep writing :)

Really.



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 To Buy my books in India, click here.


To buy my books on Amazon click here.





http://preetishenoy.com/

Wordless wednesday no. 36. Before Sunset

And this was the glorious view from my home last evening.



This is my post for Wordless Wednesday.

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http://preetishenoy.com/

Memories and dreams

 










Where do dreams go when they die?

Do they have special place to hide?

So they can appear sometimes, to live out their glory?

Or are they stilled forever?

Where do memories go when they don’t die?

Do they live in the heads of people?

Or are they, trapped in boxes so deep, never to emerge?

Are they squished as soon as they rear their once pretty
heads?

What happens to relationships when they curdle?

Are they dumped like memories and dreams?

Do the people in them ache and yearn for the happiness that
once was?

Or is that killed too?

Perhaps they make new memories, new dreams

And pretend to revel in them till they die

Ignoring the plaintive ghost-cries of the old

Seeking a ‘happily ever after’

Not realising that it exists only in foolishly hopeful
minds.




 © 2013 Preeti Shenoy

 

For more poems click here. Some poems have already appeared in print. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.


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photo credit: h.koppdelaney via photopin cc





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To buy my books on Amazon click here.




 


http://preetishenoy.com/

I am like this Vonly :) 100% genuine

Yesterday was one of those 'near-perfect' days for me. I had a really great time, spending time with the family, going out, relaxing--after very long. (It has been so hectic)



I had asked my son to click a picture of me. I had worn my favourite shirt (yes, black--no surprises there), favourite pair of jeans and favourite shoes ( which to my surprise, is still not available India.).







Feeling quite pleased with the picture, I posted it on my FB author page, last night and went to bed. I always put the date on which my pictures are clicked because so many people presume that I have posted an old picture (why in the world should I do that?!) and ask me when the picture was clicked.



This morning when I woke up, I was surprised by the huge flood of comments that this pic (which I thought was such an innocuous one!) has generated. Most of them have been so complimentary  and have gushed so much that I think it will take a year for the blush on my cheeks to vanish.



But a few comments I got took the cake-- some people have commented saying 'Be careful folks--this is a fake picture. Don't fall for it' and 'Post your real photo--not somebody else's' .



LOL.What is fake?! My shoes? :) (Don't women in India wear shoes?!!) . And for the record, my shoes are authentic, I spent a small fortune on them, I guard them jealously and I absolutely love them.

Is my smile fake? :) (It is hundred percent genuine--it is my special moronic smile which creeps up automatically when it spots a camera pointing at me--it has been honed so well that it has now graduated to the elevated status of a reflex action.)



Are my jeans fake? No--I spent a small fortune on those too (Levis demi curve, skinny, crystal blue if you must know)



What about the shirt then?  That too  is 100% genuine--Van Heusen has a great range for women.



The car, the trees in the background and even my bag isn't fake.  Why, even the ground that I am standing on, is not fake .



It is all real, I can assure you that. Maybe I should wear a label on my forehead saying '100% authentic' :D



I guess I should just be thankful that though I cannot convince the non-believers, I can tell them through this post , that my books are real :) (Go on and click on the link if you don't believe me)



I am still so amused at the cynicism of some people! :)

I am real guys--believe me ;-)

I am like this vonly :D  (no, not a typo)

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http://preetishenoy.com/

Why oh why?!

While reading the newspaper (Times of India)  yesterday, the following headline caught my eye:






I read it with interest as I have spent a part of my life at Kochi  and  mysecond book 'Life is what you make it' is partly set in Kochi, and Kochi is also mentioned in my fourth book 'The secret wish list.



After I read the piece I was quite surprised.



This is what the brief news-story says:

Kochi: The city police on Tuesday arrested an Army man
after he allegedly married a woman impersonating another person by
creating a fake identity proof.Police said the arrested identified as
Rajeev (48) of Chengannur was already married and had two children.He
faked his identity by keeping his first marriage a secret.
Police said the accused was working at the digital mapping unit of the Indian Army in Bangalore.
The accused will be sent to judicial custody after producing him before the court on Wednesday.
Police
said the accused,who responded to a matrimonial advertisement in a
newspaper,introduced himself as Sreekumar,an Army officer staying alone
in Bangalore,to the family members of the woman.He met the victim,who
came on leave from Riyadh,and fixed the marriage with her family
members.On May 26,the marriage was held at a temple.Though the victims
family had organized a reception at a city auditorium,he refused to
attend it and instead wanted her to accompany him to a hotel where he
was staying.

 

One of the relatives of the girl, questioned this guy and he gave inconsistent answers. The relative grew suspicious when he probed further and then finally they alerted the cops, who caught him in no time.

 

It is obvious that the guy wasn't really in love with the girl he married.  Or was he?



Why would a married man (that too a father of two children) go to such great lengths as to impersonate another man, respond to a matrimonial ad and get married a second time? If he was in it, just for sex, he could have easily got it elsewhere!  Was he after her money? (The report doesn't say whether the girl is wealthy). If he was after her money, wouldn't he have attended the wedding reception, kept on the charade on for a few months more, won her trust completely and then vanished with the money?



I found the story fascinating.



What is your take on this? Why did he do it?

Any theories?



Would love to know what you think!

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To buy my books on Amazon click here.








http://preetishenoy.com/

What I have been upto.

Hello people,



It is definitely nice to be missed. And of course, it feels good to know that I was.



Thank you to the kind folks who wrote to me reminding me that my blog was not updated for fourteen whole days, and one clever reader went to my FB page and checked my  twitter ,(I have been active on both, even though I haven' blogged)  and read my posts there and sent me a mail, guessing that the reason for my silence is because I have sent my new manuscript to the publishers :)



No--I haven't. (yet).  But I have indeed been working on my 5th book, and working very hard (oh, you have no idea! I work till I fall asleep in front of the laptop) and it is nearly done. But it it will be a while yet, ( a few months) before it is out. It is a lot of work you know, as explained in this post and the real work starts only when the first draft is done.



But I have been upto other things too.



Like using my new phone camera to capture striking images. Like this one.







Isn't this a great picture? (Even if I may say so myself)



Like spending time with my mother who is visiting, as mentioned in this post.



Like celebrating my daughter's 12th birthday.




 




(yes I clicked this picture too and that was her b'day cake --full of roses.)





Like playing with my dog. (yeah, she is a BIG dog)









Like catching up with good friends.











(In the picture with me is  Sachin Garg  who was in Bangalore recently)



Like reading a lot. (I had to tear myself away from a book to write this post. My reading list tends to be wide and varied)




The only thing I seemed to have missed is catching up on sleep.



And updating this blog.



I plan to make amends. (and yes, leaving a comment on my posts just might goad me into posting more often. :) I do like hearing from you, rather than this being a rambling  one-sided monologue :))



Until the next post,

Love and laughter



Preeti

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To Buy my books in India, click here.

To buy my books on Amazon click here.




http://preetishenoy.com/

Make every moment of your life count.

 

How many times do we presume things?



I do. Many a time.



And I think we're all guilty of the same at some point or the other. We form our perceptions, our world views, based on past experiences. The cat having sat on a hot stove will never again sit on a hot one or a cold one either. I think to a large extent we're all like that cat.











We are prisoners of prejudices, of hatred, of grudges, of unrequited love, of unreciprocated affections, of expectations, of disappointments, of let-downs, of promises unfulfilled, of phone-calls not returned, of rejections, of anger, of jealousy, of pettiness that shouldn't have mattered at all in the first place, but which rankles like chains, imprisoning us in our own thoughts.



How can we break free?



The hard way is to squish the ego. Eat humble pie. Knock down the 'I' into 'i.'



The easy way is to remember that everything is transient.



Death is a great leveller. (Quote from The Secret Wish list )



So let go.

If you love someone , express it. (so what if you get rejected, at least you would have tried).

If you miss someone call them up. NOW (They may not be around tomorrow when you want to talk).

If you feel jealous of someone, work harder at what you are doing.

If you feel someone hasn't reciprocated your calls, your friendship, whatever you offered, say 'so be it'. They have made space for someone better to come into your life.

If you feel you lack the time to do a favour which someone has asked, say no. Don't be afraid of offending the person who asked.  Your time is precious and limited.

If you feel you have been wronged, express it firmly but kindly. Whether or not the other party sees sense, you will respect yourself  to have stood up for what you believe in.



Laugh a lot.



And if you have one friend who cheers you up, who stands by you, who is there for you when everything seems to be going wrong, hold on to them firmly and never let them go. Make every effort to keep that friendship going.



And yes, admire the flowers.

Drink a lot of water.

Exercise.

Click happy pictures. (lots)

Make memories.

Breathe deeply.



LIVE...and make every moment count.



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photo credit: eliot. via photopin cc



To Buy my books in India, click here.

To buy my books on Amazon click here.






http://preetishenoy.com/