The Good and The Bad

The Bad

I am so depressed today. The whole job hunting nightmare continues .. . . and while a lot of other things in my life at the moment is hunky dory .. this is tormenting me. The only potential job on the horizon is one I had said I would never go back to (... never say never .. never say never .. . I really should have listened to my mum more!) Actually I can't decide if I will be sadder if I have to join the job or if I don't get it - its a toss up there! I desperately want something good .. challenging and that pays well. Earlier I thought money would not be an important factor in my job decision making.. but some of the difference between sectors is too much to ignore ... turns out I am more mercenary than I thought I was! In all I am terribly depressed and think I shall go watch some mindless film..

The Good

Bee has got me a very very early new year present - tickets to Alegria. Its here in Jan at the Royal Albert Hall.. I heard that one should go there for a performance anyway .. and am sure this will be spectacular.

I had first read about Cirque du Soleil in a marketing case .. it was about how people were losing interest in the circus with the advent of television and cinema and two former performers, Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier, created a new space with the grandeur of theatre and elements of the circus. It was a circus (minus animals) set to a theme, grand music, costumes and lighting. It was a really interesting case ... and I was very curious after reading it. Last year I went for my first cirque show... and I loved every minute of it. Though its ridiculously expensive for us .. we're going again - I am terribly excited and really looking forward to it. I am sure it is going to be better than what I can even dream it to be .. and I know I won't be disappointed!

Through my lens - Notting Hill Carnival

What a lovely weekend it was - pity its over. The highlight of the weekend was the Notting Hill Carnival. Its supposed to be the largest in Europe and second only to the carnival in Rio! Armed with camera and a few friends, I hit the carnival on Monday evening.

It was everything that I read it would be. The huge crowds (supposed to be visited by two million people!).. the loud music and wild drinking. Here's the pictures to do the talking . . . . .

There was barely place to stand with people lining all roads along the way. The crowd was as cosmopolitan as it gets! Thankfully there was not too much pushing.


There were ofcourse the smart ones who found unique vantage points. The first is a group on the roof of one of the shops. The second is a lady who got someone to carry her around ..and finally someone who just sat on the ledge of one of the buildings!

The life of the party - the floats with the sound system. I don't know the decibel level .. but it reached right within you and one could actually feel the vibration.

And the biggest attraction of the carnival - Mas (costume, Masquerade). Some of the costumes were awesome. I couldn't stop clicking! Have put some of the pictures together in this.. do click on it and check out the larger version.


Other highlights of the carnival - One of the great floats. I loved the music .. made a note to listen to some more steel drums.


And finally - the creativity was not just limited to the parade ... with all the beer around .. others seemed to join in!

Most of the people I went with didn't enjoy themselves much - and I think that's because they didn't even move a toe to those awesome Latino beats - not sure how they did that - maybe a couple of beers would have helped! I loved it .. had a great time clicking away .. danced by myself and soaked in the vibrant spirit at the largest street party in Europe.

One interesting hobby please

I just found out that my cv does not reflect the kind of person I am. My hobbies and personal interests section needs to be pepped up. So the past three days I have been racking my brain for two lines which will make the reader think of me as an interesting high achiever. And so far I have n-o-t-h-i-n-g.

While working and later studying ..after 12-14 hour days .. I barely could get dinner ready on weekdays. I just about managed chatting with flatmates / family, reading a bit and crashing. Weekends would be some more work, meeting friends, unwinding and then it would be Monday again. Maybe if I was the driven type I could have actually learnt something but then I enjoyed the relaxing, reading, meeting friends! And now I suffer for it .. no hobbies to write about.

I checked out what others in my class had written ... and now I have a complex! There are ballet dancers who have given professional shows, people who like learning languages (and know 7 languages to show that!), someone had run in five marathons, cello players, national swimming champions - where do they get the time ??

Its not like I don't have any interests ..

I love reading. Fiction. Everyone writes that (along with music - also another genuine interest) ..and therefore does not make you special. Ok ..so how about writing by Indian writers - thats too narrow!

Then there's travelling. Again ..very often mentioned and unless you've been to some totally off beat places (even better if there are no loos there) then not worth mentioning. Nothing great about going to Bali or Italy.

Hmm .. so how about cooking? I do enjoy that .. and actually love cooking for friends. The other person who I saw had mentioned cooking.. had also written a cook book. You don't even have original recipes! Also, its a very individualistic thing.. does not show team spirit! (Its a hobby for god sakes!)

Then.. photography? I love taking photographs .. of people and places. You'll have to know about apertures, shutter speeds and blah blah blah ..and not be taking pictures in the automatic mode on an SLR and thinking of it as your great work.

So now I have run out of things which are really of interest to me and can be of good 'cv value' (some other time will talk of my opinion of the whole concept of cv value and cv bullet points - for now have an important mission!). Bee very sarcastically commented that its too bad that watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S and partying can't be included. Was ready to whack him especially since he genuinely has hobbies which make good cv bullet points and fulfill the criteria of being different, interesting, showing team spirit, dedication, perseverence and all.

So now I need to find a personal interest .. which may or may not be of any interest to me ..but will make future employers see me as the shining star they must employ. Problem is I need it fast! I wonder if this is a generic thing .. or as my sister would sarcastically say ..'the problem with you MBA types'.

Curiosity killed the cat

For someone who has recently started blogging I should have been focussing on mastering what is available. .. but no, why must I be normal. I had been seeing a lot of press / discussion about the new blogger and every time I logged on there was a little button which gave me the option of upgrading in two clicks. Initially I ignored it.. but then curiosity got the better of me ..and wham ..I am now irreversibly 'upgraded'. Not very helpful since the layouts have changed..and its really bugging that it keeps wanting to log on with my regular gmail account! So now have to figure this version out.. and I better be able to use some new features to justify this added confusion.

On a totally different topic.. I had the interview today. It lasted half the day ..and went well (so I think!) but the job is fairly junior so I am not too interested. I am hoping this has established a relationship to look at further opportunities which may be more feasible. Lets see how it goes. At any rate I have a very numb feeling at the moment. Since I was a child, I have this vacant feeling after any major interview or exam. It was really strong after the class X board exams (a time I had actually studied) where I nearly cried because I had nothing to do after they were over. Its a different issue that I totally partied after that .. maybe a bit too long which extended onto the next two years!

Coincidentally two very close friends called today .. which perked up my day. .. but for the rest ..the house is still in a mess (I always wreck it when I am getting ready for an interview and fling things all over) and I have just been surfing random stuff to kill time (I love the Internet). Will have to go out in a bit to show our house guest Piccadilly Circus.. not sure she'll be too excited since she's from New York and I hear they have bill boards which are bigger, better and more in number.

Am looking forward to the weekend. I love long weekends (even though am not working so it technically should not matter- but still). Bee and I are planning to take time off from all the job hunt / new place /work tension and just relax. Planning to check out the Notting Hill Carnival which looks very interesting. ..and just watch some totally random movies.

Tuesday will be an all new week ..and bring with it new hope.

Somewhere over the rainbow ...

A weekend with a school friend visiting = Late nights gossip sessions + nice memories + diet being forgotten + high pitched excited shrieking + a lot of fun

A close friend from school called last week to say she would be in London. She came over last weekend and had a really busy schedule .. but we managed to catch lunch one day and sat up chatting late every night. It was very hectic and I am now very very sleepy from all those late nights but I enjoyed every moment of it. Close friends from school always magically remain close. We were a group of five friends and no matter how long we're out of touch or have moved on with our lives, when we meet its like we never left. I still feel as close to them and know they'll always be there.

Each one of them has done really well and can be quite intimidating when met professionally (so I have heard from people who have met them in that capacity) but once we're together we're no better than a bunch of screaming, gossiping teenagers chatting late into the night. I suppose when you've been through all the 'growing up stuff' together and seen each other in the worst dressed, gawky teenager with braces phase there's little you need to maintain as an 'image'. I love the bond we share.. and hope it always remains like this... and given what we've all been through.. I am pretty sure it will.

PS The title is from the song Somewhere over the rainbow from Wizard of Oz. I always associate it with the happy memories of school, friends..and 'singing class'.