Just to remind you of my most recent posts…
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November 6th, 2018 
And for our dogs, Tommy & Yoko, today was the day.
Along with thousands of dogs in Nepal, our dogs are honoured today on the occasion of “Kukur Puja.”
Such a lovely festival.
I found a very informative blog about this festival, and the contrast between the Indian and Nepali way of celebrating Diwali is quite stark – though in India’s defence, the ban on firecrackers this year has (thus far) reduced the noise levels, and the pain and fear inflicted on animals, street dogs in particular.
Nar Bahadur was sitting petting Yoko yesterday, muttering about how the dogs hate […]
Click to continue reading Every dog has his day
November 5th, 2018 I am not asthmatic.
I have no allergies.
(For the record, as a child, I used to say I was allergic to cream doughnuts, but that was because of a particularly disastrous road trip…I’ll spare you the details…)
So, no, I’m not allergic. I’m not asthmatic.
For my age I’m reasonably fit.
Exercise.
Need to lose 2/3 kg, but don’t we all?
Don’t smoke.
So why am I wheezing and coughing and spluttering?
Why are my eyes stinging?
Why do I feel borderline breathless?
THIS IS WHY.
THIS!
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Click to continue reading Delhi’s toxic mess is getting worse
November 2nd, 2018 
Today began in the pre-dawn darkness, as I headed off through the streets of Delhi, to meet up with one of my running friends, Sunil Punshi, who was taking me to Yamuna Ghat.
I was last there in probably 2008 or 2009 (pre-Commonwealth Games, that’s for sure) and was keen to see the river again, and at dawn, inspired by the fabulous photos Sunil shares on his Instagram feed (if you don’t already follow him, you should!)
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Click to continue reading Seeing Delhi differently
November 2nd, 2018 Trust me. You will not find a lovelier, more uplifting story than this one.
There is just so much to love in this story, isn’t there?
I honestly can’t decide which is my favourite bit.
The fact that this fabulous 96 year old is planning to study till her 10th grade exams…or that she now wants to learn computers…how awesome is she?!
I love the fact that she can now read story books without nagging her great
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Click to continue reading This is THE best thing you’ll read today
October 31st, 2018 I am currently in a state of deep despair about my adoptive home, India, and more especially about Delhi, where we live.
There are so many things happening right now in this country and in this city, and none of them seems good, to be honest.
Of course there’s lots of amazing stuff happening, of course there is. But the overall impression that we the common people are left with, is of a government so totally focused on pushing its “Hindu” agenda in the run up to next year’s elections, that nothing else really counts.
As I sit in my […]
Click to continue reading Delhi’s toxic mess
October 20th, 2018 For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve started answering my popquiz question here.
Clever strategy, right, to get people to check the blog!
So, to remind you of today’s popquiz, asking you where this statue is:
The answer is the Jaipur Polo Ground.
He’s pretty impressive, right?
October 18th, 2018 I live in a very weird house.
Not only do we have no mobile connectivity, as in NO mobile connectivity, the walls also seem to bounce sound off in totally random directions.
Sitting just now in my study, which gives onto the drive and the garage at the back of the property, I could’ve sworn that the bells and music and general “tamasha” was coming from right outside my window.
Go into hubby’s study next door, which faces a different direction, over the neighbour’ s back garden, and quite clearly the tamasha was coming from there.
Except that the action […]
Click to continue reading It’s all happening. If only I knew where!
October 16th, 2018 In a city with quite a few impressive statues of heroic people and freedom fighters, I came across this very, very small but very jolly statue in a teeny little park on Tikendrajit Marg, in Chanakyapuri.
It was on Sunday, when I went for a solo run, and decided to explore streets I’d never visited before.
After all the hours I’ve trotted round this part of Delhi, it’s nice to discover new avenues.
Literally and metaphorically.
I already shared with you my major discovery on Tikendrajit Marg, in a blog post the other day – the memorial to the man […]
Click to continue reading So, how well do you know your Delhi statues?
October 14th, 2018 Rest assured.
Despite the title of this post, you haven’t logged onto my running blog by mistake (though it would be lovely if you’d go check it out after reading this).
For various reasons, today I ran alone, and did what I used to do in my earlier solo running days – headed off down new roads, to discover new things.
In any case the roads around Nehru Park were w-a-y too hectic this morning, with more runners than usual, plus big groups of walkers taking part in an official government sponsored walk with all the incumbent circus of buses
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Click to continue reading The things you learn on a morning run
October 11th, 2018 
What strange times we live in.
Just about the only security force in India that is consistently charming and friendly and un-overbearing (in my humble opinion) is the CISF or Central Industrial Security Force.
I’m not entirely sure of their remit, but what I do know is these good souls handle the security at Indian airports, checking documents, patiently reminding people to take out their laptops, and not carry liquids, and to stand in line, day in and day out.
In the case of the women of the CISF who frisk women passengers, they are often briefly chatty, and invariably […]
Click to continue reading So what exactly is a “sufficient smile”?
October 9th, 2018 
I know, I know, I have been totally MIA, blogging-wise, these last few weeks. And I have no excuses, no justification, other than the truth.
And the truth of the matter is that I have felt totally overwhelmed by India of late.
As a blogger, the news/what’s up/what’s happening – these are all my bread and butter, the stuff that inspires my blog posts. But every morning, when I open my paper, there is a litany of one horror story after another.
I’m not naive, I’m really not. We all know that bad news sells papers.
But the news these […]
Click to continue reading The drunken rats of India
September 14th, 2018 
So, here I am, back in Delhi, after an absolutely wonderful 2 weeks in Leh, high up in the Himalayas.
For those of you who know and love Ladakh, you’ll understand my reluctance to leave such a stunning part of the country and such lovely people.
For those of you who have yet to visit Ladakh – well, you’re in for a treat.
Leh, the capital of the Ladakh region is at about 3500m altitude, so the first day or
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Click to continue reading Back in the Big Smoke
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