tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364186702024-03-17T11:20:13.076+05:30Preeti Shenoy's blogFrom the desk of Preeti ShenoyPreeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.comBlogger1474125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-10156485071932642542023-06-30T23:46:00.008+05:302023-07-01T07:48:54.109+05:3030 life lessons I learn from my 30 day blog marathon<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNInNKwlNl040Y4ugWpA-U8pbxHmuxxcoqzqy2JQ6IZ9J_J_NZfav0qMBT6PFGD_-yGYWgjYySBckZ1WqNKWT6LD3_2hdMosP6SsbVRl8OcwvpCZz6IUPT3wt7R8Cnsnj6EPH_r6uixPwMjHA1rMN9cGd_FxDrwdiQ_Usvti31ORUS9oRLWiiTA/s5472/brigitte-tohm-EAay7Aj4jbc-unsplash(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNInNKwlNl040Y4ugWpA-U8pbxHmuxxcoqzqy2JQ6IZ9J_J_NZfav0qMBT6PFGD_-yGYWgjYySBckZ1WqNKWT6LD3_2hdMosP6SsbVRl8OcwvpCZz6IUPT3wt7R8Cnsnj6EPH_r6uixPwMjHA1rMN9cGd_FxDrwdiQ_Usvti31ORUS9oRLWiiTA/w426-h640/brigitte-tohm-EAay7Aj4jbc-unsplash(1).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@brigittetohm?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Brigitte Tohm</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/images/people/life?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
</p><p> </p><p> Hello all!<br /><br />I have mixed feelings today. I feel a bit relieved that this blog marathon is coming to an end. It was *very hard* for me to keep producing content, day after day with no remuneration whatsoever, especially when I had othe<i>r paid</i> work. The other thing being that I had to take out time from my day to be here, no matter what I had going on in my personal life. That was excruciatingly hard. I do feel happy that I achieved it,<br />I also feel a bit sad that it is over--somehow, in these 30 days, I feel I have made a real connection with the people who took out time to comment here regularly, on almost all posts. That did encourage me a LOT, and as much as you were looking forward to my posts, I was looking forward to reading your comments. They were a real joy and a delight for me, and frankly kept me going.</p><p>I would like to thank<a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/00600480897794029322" target="_blank"> Sourabh</a> who commented on ALL of my posts. I would also like to thank <a href="http://tarangsinha.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tarang Sinha,</a> who was super supportive. Do check out her blog<a href="http://tarangsinha.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> HERE</a><br /></p><p>Pavan, Priyanka, Priyajit and my blogger friends country dew and4. Bev too commented. If I have missed out any more, I'm sorry. But please know that your words meant a lot. I did reply to all comments too.<br /><br />Here are 30 lessons I learnt from 30 days of my blog marathon.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. If you love something (or soemone) you will always find the time for it (or them).</p><p>2. Some people will be there for you always, and some won't bother. That's okay. Be grateful for the ones who are there.</p><p>3. You can keep going long after you think you can't.</p><p>4. Every day is a gift, and we have to look for what was best in that day, and focus on it.</p><p>5. Connecting with others helps.</p><p>6. Forgive someone who has wronged you in the past. They are not the same people they were back then.</p><p>7.Feed your mind with interesting things. Only then can you nurture your creativity.</p><p>8. Do what you have to do.</p><p>9. Keep going even when you can't see any reward. The Universe is doing its work.</p><p>10. Believe that good things are coming.</p><p>11.If you have committed to something, force yourself to do it, even when you don't feel like it.</p><p>12. Let go.</p><p>13.Being regular is more important that being perfect.</p><p>14. Practise a skill daily, even if it is for a little time. It all adds up.</p><p>15. Discipline is old fashioned but it isthe most powerful tool you cam empower yourself with.</p><p>16. Share.</p><p>17. Keep some things to yourself! You don't have to share it all :)</p><p>18. Kindness over everything else.</p><p>19. People are different. Accept them.</p><p>20. Don't tolerate being disrespected. Walk away.</p><p>21. Not everyone will be nice to you. It shows who they are--it is not a reflection on you.</p><p>22. Choose your tribe carefully.</p><p>23. Make time to read things that interest you. Reading nurtures your soul.</p><p>24. You can smile even if you are hurting inside. A smile spreads cheer and surprisingly you will feel better.</p><p>25. Pick up the phone and make that phone-call to a person you want to be in touch with.</p><p>26. Making friends with an animal is rewarding. How amazing it is to be able to understand another species!<br /></p><p>27. It is best to be silent and walk away when someone argues foolishly. They will never see your point of view<br /></p><p>28. Having tea/coffee or whatever your comfort drink is, helps while working!<br /></p><p>29. Reward yourself for a task well done.<br /></p><p>30. A sense of accomplishment for a challenege completed is a reward in itself. Monetary rewards aren't always the best!<br /><br />I hope you have been enjoying the blog marathon posts. If you like my posts, you will probably enjoy my books as well.<br /><br />Do check out my latest book <a href="http://preeti.io/aplacecalledhome" target="_blank">A Place Called Home.</a></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoOE07NbxdDgndPlopk93O5I47eqWHxFdPeYVYzYv_RHZz5To4KiZFMe8tlXTTPVrfnCX8hi7QkWq0APVOByr_OJTbQRhCCGlfHOAo8yxkancs87sCIbVMmrv2eFT0-1OwdkifQcnpDZFYLKIHIiLByQE12n6z4D2Zna5zwfZOHTRM7yFSqct0A/s1500/APCH.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoOE07NbxdDgndPlopk93O5I47eqWHxFdPeYVYzYv_RHZz5To4KiZFMe8tlXTTPVrfnCX8hi7QkWq0APVOByr_OJTbQRhCCGlfHOAo8yxkancs87sCIbVMmrv2eFT0-1OwdkifQcnpDZFYLKIHIiLByQE12n6z4D2Zna5zwfZOHTRM7yFSqct0A/w640-h490/APCH.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p>That's all for now. I hope to blog every now and then.</p><p>Take care.<br />Love<br />Preeti<br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-59550059656611804582023-06-29T20:06:00.004+05:302023-06-29T20:08:03.257+05:30Top 13 Apps on my phone! (Thursday thirteen)<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0UCS914X7ChVAnLyIMVA4MgDK0wMb4n8YNSfNcfypgJWBhCy4UdFpNE1q6JF2lCXX_UObFayfFmt4ba9mNoqYJkOGlD1341jnCJ2Be7dUSRP3aWoJkv8JCOS3k3hAzBZf5JFHkMXa7cVl98ftxtaCda1EdSnyXmnRQPhGPiTnMSTqbRMP_pHYg/s6000/bagus-hernawan-A6JxK37IlPo-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0UCS914X7ChVAnLyIMVA4MgDK0wMb4n8YNSfNcfypgJWBhCy4UdFpNE1q6JF2lCXX_UObFayfFmt4ba9mNoqYJkOGlD1341jnCJ2Be7dUSRP3aWoJkv8JCOS3k3hAzBZf5JFHkMXa7cVl98ftxtaCda1EdSnyXmnRQPhGPiTnMSTqbRMP_pHYg/w640-h426/bagus-hernawan-A6JxK37IlPo-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@bhaguz?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Bagus Hernawan</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/A6JxK37IlPo?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
</p><p> <br /></p><p> Its time for a<a href="http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Thursday Thirteen</a> again!<br /><br />Today I thought I'd share the top 13 apps on my phone. Here goes (in no particular order)<br /><b><br />1.Fitbit :</b> I have a<b> <a href="https://amzn.to/44kBwpO" target="_blank">Charge 5 </a></b>and it's one of the best things I have invested in. I wear it all the time and I use it to track my sleep, my calories burnt, steps walked and much much more. If you are a fitness enthusiast or even someone generally trying to get fit, I recommend it.<br /></p><p><b>2. Duolingo: </b>I've been using<b> <a href="https://www.duolingo.com/" target="_blank">duolingo</a></b> for learning Spanish. (I have a streak of 425 days which means I have used it daily for the past 425 days!) It's a free app, and the learning is fun. It's excellent for learning basics and grammar. However, in order to be able to speak the language, you still have to immerse yourself in it, and the best way is by hiring a tutor who can converse with you in that language. But you will learn a LOT of new words and sentences using this app.</p><p><b>3. Instagram:</b> I use it all the time. Follow me to see what I am upto on a daily basis. I post stories daily. Click <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/preeti.shenoy/">HERE.</a></b></p><p><b>4. Twitter: </b>I am very active on Twitter too. <a href="https://twitter.com/preetishenoy" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> is my Twitter account. Follow me on twitter too! </p><p><b>5. Strong:</b> I use this to track my daily workouts. This is what the icon looks like:<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vvsa8S9_ddMLBRCLWHQ_D4GuD-arp7RlLJrK1QVGgDvJLVbropQL71ANB8TojMrN2lKt7_2ocpf72l1tosvbpi8lK9sA0B2phNmcXZayqQv22I3NxUlwKOZcrlGPXUeyK4s0PLT2MUSTbq79dr1lQQF1k2M8CaE-kiTqzGk-yn6tEUpkojBZqQ/s315/IMG_1969.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vvsa8S9_ddMLBRCLWHQ_D4GuD-arp7RlLJrK1QVGgDvJLVbropQL71ANB8TojMrN2lKt7_2ocpf72l1tosvbpi8lK9sA0B2phNmcXZayqQv22I3NxUlwKOZcrlGPXUeyK4s0PLT2MUSTbq79dr1lQQF1k2M8CaE-kiTqzGk-yn6tEUpkojBZqQ/w168-h200/IMG_1969.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><p>Today I had a leg day. Here's what my workout was (Yes,I am so dead!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeD_Fsow5WYDqhk5LmnY1qSsv1rTjqwppTbPaJHjlj_Z7NJjQDQCwwmYqhnc339OkPicv-nMCHsE2NA9ydMeTZ6MF8jKHZwPXQYw9R7Jag0FLa3AUx2IP_V9EOVGZJuXJ6Xb8GT1RLKqqzm5Xgz7BBrTG_C6F0OcHuepDAFHJ9HBjZ0HnJdGExA/s1170/IMG_C707BC57377F-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1170" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeD_Fsow5WYDqhk5LmnY1qSsv1rTjqwppTbPaJHjlj_Z7NJjQDQCwwmYqhnc339OkPicv-nMCHsE2NA9ydMeTZ6MF8jKHZwPXQYw9R7Jag0FLa3AUx2IP_V9EOVGZJuXJ6Xb8GT1RLKqqzm5Xgz7BBrTG_C6F0OcHuepDAFHJ9HBjZ0HnJdGExA/w400-h399/IMG_C707BC57377F-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>6. Accuweather:</b> I use it all the time to check out the weather at the variuos destinations I travel to. It's mostly accurate. (Example--it even tells things like 'rain in 21 minutes' and mostly it is right!)</p><p><b>7.Koo:</b> The Indian alternative to twitter..Yes, <a href="https://www.kooapp.com/profile/preeti.shenoy" target="_blank">I am on Koo too.</a></p><p><b>8. Reddit</b>: I find it to be a useful forum</p><p><b>9. Linked in</b>:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/preetishenoyauthor/" target="_blank"> HERE is my profile </a>on linkedin. </p><p><b>10. Google Maps:</b> Of course it's essential!</p><p><b>11. Google Pay: </b>Can't imagine life without it. I rarely take my wallet these days.</p><p><b>12. Digiyatra: </b>Super useful to check in, at Bangalore airport<br /></p><p><b>13. Apple Music</b>: Need it for everything!</p><p>Apart from the above functional apps, I have a few mind-engaging games which I play regularly. One is called Design Home where you work on actual homes and design the interiors. I love Tetris. Then I have something call Ball Sort which is a puzzle to sort out balls on the basis of their colour into small testtubes. I also have Woody which is a spin-off on tetris.</p><p>These are some of the apps I use!<br />What about you? What are the apps you have? Tell me in comments 👇🏽</p><p>Last post of the blog marathon tomorrow!! <br />See you tomorrow.<br />Love<br />Preeti<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-22206770099073810242023-06-28T20:35:00.006+05:302023-06-28T20:35:27.705+05:30Wordless Wednesday--Books currently on my besdide<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifg2xAHPugXZPV1SQqvUkgv3qvfdlU9gaoUdqZSYXamJwMHT-eviHFCSJGFrjr9x4Olm_Rn27aTDetX5Kgt62-wdh7GCmTgiPMhiWnB-FFCqNvK5QEAEf8nyclU1H6uY1ly2xqsmpVIuxmnNnyTdve-FoWkFk0luU-7KLyOACRom-IB-HIe0eIGQ/s4032/IMG_1960%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifg2xAHPugXZPV1SQqvUkgv3qvfdlU9gaoUdqZSYXamJwMHT-eviHFCSJGFrjr9x4Olm_Rn27aTDetX5Kgt62-wdh7GCmTgiPMhiWnB-FFCqNvK5QEAEf8nyclU1H6uY1ly2xqsmpVIuxmnNnyTdve-FoWkFk0luU-7KLyOACRom-IB-HIe0eIGQ/w480-h640/IMG_1960%202.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's<a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> wordless wednesday</a>.</p><p>These are the books which were currently on my bedside. I'm working on a sequel to 'A Place Called Home' and so I just read it again today. The rest of the books are ones I loved reading. Yet to read the one right at the bottom.</p><p>Since this post is supposed to be wordless I'll stop now :)<br />(But do check out these books)<br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-43183079333977433932023-06-27T21:27:00.006+05:302023-06-27T21:27:54.155+05:30Travel Tuesday --How to choose a place to visit<p> Hello!<br /><br />We're nearing the end of the blog marathon. Only 3 more posts (apart from this one) and we're done! It's gone by so fast!</p><p>Since today is Travel Tuesday, I asked on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/preeti.shenoy/" target="_blank">Instagram stories </a>what questions you'd like me to answer related to travel. I said I'd pick the first few questions and answer them in a blog post.<br /><br />here goes:<br /><b><br />How do you decide which place you'd like to visit?</b><br /><br />For me, I look at places I've read about in books mostly. When we decided to visit Egypt, it was because my husband and I are both huge fans of Wilbur Smith's books. Many of them are set in ancient Egypt. When we visited all those places we were filled with a sense of awe as these were places so familiar to us, because of the books! <br />It's a great idea to make a list of places you'd like to visit. Think about what you truly love. If you like history pick places that have historical significance. (I am a huge fan of historical places. When I visit old forts or palaces or such, it fills me with a sense of wonder to think that certain incidents happened in the very place I am standing, thousands of years ago)<br />If you like beach destinations, look up all the beaches. Then think about whether you don't mind the crowds (In which case there are ample destinations!) or whether you want solitude. One of the best beaches I visited was Radhanagar beach in Andaman.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg2zVSxzqgprlyxoQmgXWoAm_hZxsuKsDQYQp_nnpy4mT6o1elOjbRv11QgzcfyIilZ2CEvdUciLEtGePPCdOTq0Db5c3KIBs1BTDCEjHf4vX2vOr820t4wg00AUroAXhawOjVa_PiDRjHj3B7IT7jB-ikLQ62nx1ZsAdrMB8S-n9kqsAY52Q7g/s6000/niket-malpani-q7cVr4FrGsY-unsplash(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg2zVSxzqgprlyxoQmgXWoAm_hZxsuKsDQYQp_nnpy4mT6o1elOjbRv11QgzcfyIilZ2CEvdUciLEtGePPCdOTq0Db5c3KIBs1BTDCEjHf4vX2vOr820t4wg00AUroAXhawOjVa_PiDRjHj3B7IT7jB-ikLQ62nx1ZsAdrMB8S-n9kqsAY52Q7g/w640-h426/niket-malpani-q7cVr4FrGsY-unsplash(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/de/@niket1792?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Niket Malpani</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/q7cVr4FrGsY?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b> How do you manage expenses for travel? Do you save first or do you go when you feel like?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> I save first. I don't think it is wise to just blow up all the money on travel, on a whim. I also look for the best time of the year, when the tourist season has finished. Usually the weather would be great for many months but it would still not be peak season as the school holidays would have got over. Hence many families wouldn't be travelling. The tickets and hotels would tend to be a lot cheaper then.<br /><br />Switzerland was one of the most expensive places I visited. I saved up and spent wisely. I got quotes from many websites. If you're planning a swiss travel <a href="https://www.swisstours.com/" target="_blank">this official site </a>(a division of Swiss Air) is one of the best. I dislike group tours and group travels. So I plan everything meticulously. (It takes many weeks of research) Then I book everything before I go.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> This picture was clicked in Interlaken, Switzerland.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1AIfFZE3rYHl5pE1TZEh4n_E63I1W2JfRqYFQB0GGN_Wk_im1Vg_trS2J0U1EHywcLVS10xRDYMzMOxpA9lYTvFk6eMGW-qRAfg0-TM_fz14uuWleBka8B8HPo7WM3SPkpRPIUongWUjUse1t8nY7mNYq9I8T3CYm3CgaioWU_HA7qkEXsg0kQ/s4032/IMG_0014.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1AIfFZE3rYHl5pE1TZEh4n_E63I1W2JfRqYFQB0GGN_Wk_im1Vg_trS2J0U1EHywcLVS10xRDYMzMOxpA9lYTvFk6eMGW-qRAfg0-TM_fz14uuWleBka8B8HPo7WM3SPkpRPIUongWUjUse1t8nY7mNYq9I8T3CYm3CgaioWU_HA7qkEXsg0kQ/w480-h640/IMG_0014.HEIC" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Do you maintain your routine of writing when you travel? If yes how do you maintain that?<br /><br /></b> I keep a sketchbook when I travel. I draw on location. I LOVE sketching on location. This is how I was sitting in Zurich and sketching.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLbhqrGgz4irZrw4fzm9ojOeBbiqzr4JiPQgM6OqOnlpRHj_ObsH8yIbOF_BQUIcc9rEdWJexkSKueSsLll1MqGKbehfhExGwAzc6rFjfE_tVpQ2g-3sNiJLOXwIkuYF3V-Ugz2BRjWPlS2HHectkR49px0TiBuJtJQF83BS8AhK2NNJ3fMNMZg/s1722/IMG_1939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLbhqrGgz4irZrw4fzm9ojOeBbiqzr4JiPQgM6OqOnlpRHj_ObsH8yIbOF_BQUIcc9rEdWJexkSKueSsLll1MqGKbehfhExGwAzc6rFjfE_tVpQ2g-3sNiJLOXwIkuYF3V-Ugz2BRjWPlS2HHectkR49px0TiBuJtJQF83BS8AhK2NNJ3fMNMZg/w434-h640/IMG_1939.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">It was really cold (probably 12 degrees or maybe lesser) and I was finding it hard. But I loved it! Many people stopped to admire my sketches. A little girl and her grandma spoke to me in Swiss German. I couldn't understand a word they said and by action they appreciated my work. There were broad smiles on their faces. It was one of the really cherished memories for me.<br />At Mount Pilatus, there was no bench to sit. So I sat on the floor and sketched.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5NObJXAeLV0zD2KKiQ-pTe7W49pdpIWhSsqZQNnGg0q68lwk7_r43pAb7Y4W9TmKijX-jUukXVvfLMTMB5DBMfivaBQR7QoHbtQfWfY7BXihnamLQE2VzSsC0YEsaqbvlCaSpYS8anW7jgAtYQ_jP-eRUJ25eQ8CSBhi4FaQU7j36dlcq5whbg/s1731/IMG_1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1731" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5NObJXAeLV0zD2KKiQ-pTe7W49pdpIWhSsqZQNnGg0q68lwk7_r43pAb7Y4W9TmKijX-jUukXVvfLMTMB5DBMfivaBQR7QoHbtQfWfY7BXihnamLQE2VzSsC0YEsaqbvlCaSpYS8anW7jgAtYQ_jP-eRUJ25eQ8CSBhi4FaQU7j36dlcq5whbg/w432-h640/IMG_1938.jpg" width="432" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />All around me were icy peaks of snow covered mountains. Here's what it was like.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOhVJviCpa7xjo9h5FFTEljByAPjQ3MoTjAz8sk20zUqymxVJabiXAhiBhE4XYH1sajHOT3ryqbYEmu7xZyjiPFjotih9Nx8zBgSRWuE-4E89WQzD240zlhgP45FWBC8hoj_fUE52CwDgaaXZ7e75I7GEc3onZxsYY_viUmB97I7Lfb98Kh7JLA/s1789/IMG_1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOhVJviCpa7xjo9h5FFTEljByAPjQ3MoTjAz8sk20zUqymxVJabiXAhiBhE4XYH1sajHOT3ryqbYEmu7xZyjiPFjotih9Nx8zBgSRWuE-4E89WQzD240zlhgP45FWBC8hoj_fUE52CwDgaaXZ7e75I7GEc3onZxsYY_viUmB97I7Lfb98Kh7JLA/w418-h640/IMG_1940.jpg" width="418" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">It was an absolute joy to be present in the moment, and sketch. A photo is just taken very quickly. But when we sketch we are slowing down, and truly observing and taking in everything. Years later when I look at my sketchbook I transported there through the pages I created.<br /><br />I am sharing with you a few pages from my sketchbook.<b></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH96zOTulbrQ19TU_ovyy18mTNCIc0eihs2xKm-PO9J1HGso2SzyreOIPC0OyM4y0Q0j6QK9BuT3kczfBXfOZCcIwlqfmzwuve2-uuBYJBjq8q0NRqdgv-IxrWAcsMikIfP0T2gVQ3WMPhZ9kH7UApLaiMuxGAHnJ8okXaP7tc4hwV9gAF1sarmg/s1606/Screenshot%202023-06-27%20at%209.12.29%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1606" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH96zOTulbrQ19TU_ovyy18mTNCIc0eihs2xKm-PO9J1HGso2SzyreOIPC0OyM4y0Q0j6QK9BuT3kczfBXfOZCcIwlqfmzwuve2-uuBYJBjq8q0NRqdgv-IxrWAcsMikIfP0T2gVQ3WMPhZ9kH7UApLaiMuxGAHnJ8okXaP7tc4hwV9gAF1sarmg/w640-h520/Screenshot%202023-06-27%20at%209.12.29%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHiYh4hdlhL1Q11w5JdTCUMehit98CU-DyxNQzjT4c0ty2YNw6kozAAdJh47PbpPUkVmGpaORWxKeIaeW116xI35ho7oukO6MTAOFkm0oo5fG0Gb2DJs-nUeczlRJQhZfpH5rCKh4wuFUEoylAkONTcwsLVXktwjPyoCzvnW21KCFtrAEvGEVLw/s1568/Screenshot%202023-06-27%20at%209.12.14%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1568" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHiYh4hdlhL1Q11w5JdTCUMehit98CU-DyxNQzjT4c0ty2YNw6kozAAdJh47PbpPUkVmGpaORWxKeIaeW116xI35ho7oukO6MTAOFkm0oo5fG0Gb2DJs-nUeczlRJQhZfpH5rCKh4wuFUEoylAkONTcwsLVXktwjPyoCzvnW21KCFtrAEvGEVLw/w640-h534/Screenshot%202023-06-27%20at%209.12.14%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> I will be travelling soon to UK, and I plan to skecth daily there too. I share my drawing on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/preetishenoyart/" target="_blank">Instagram art account.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">So you can follow me there or simply click on what I've linked and check out my work.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">I hope you enjoyed this post.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">More tomorrow.<br />Love<br />Preeti </span>
</p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-20353752880826935662023-06-26T23:35:00.004+05:302023-06-26T23:37:29.604+05:3010 things to never ask a writer.<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KqSJJXFDltN6oxm9hNCjvD3Qi6zn8ISZgsp-keTK6VVWlqqdvZEfZdUe2xwO_LOrKW8l4qQv4wVqGH-C4ILnQURogjZfdCHkPX2EzhcgX9Eaun____QdFSo8EtrAXUNFFD1y-GYXfC45XKKf26xWSYyCKfSmr63E8UwW4E-uM6fXcuQCHp7ceg/s940/Ten%20things%20to.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KqSJJXFDltN6oxm9hNCjvD3Qi6zn8ISZgsp-keTK6VVWlqqdvZEfZdUe2xwO_LOrKW8l4qQv4wVqGH-C4ILnQURogjZfdCHkPX2EzhcgX9Eaun____QdFSo8EtrAXUNFFD1y-GYXfC45XKKf26xWSYyCKfSmr63E8UwW4E-uM6fXcuQCHp7ceg/w640-h536/Ten%20things%20to.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">People are curious about writers/authors. Many don't even consider it a real job because they think writing is something that people do as a hobby in their spare time.<br />As someone who has written 15 books in the last 14 years, I can tell you writing is a full time job. But not everyone (I am speaking specifically about India) can make a living out of writing. (I am fortunate that my books sell a LOT and I'm able to get six figure advances and make a living out of writing full time. But this took me many years to achieve).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">When people hear that I am an author, they are instantly fascinated as they've never met an author before. They ask all kinds of questions. Here are ten things you should never ask a writer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><br /></span></p><div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex items-start overflow-x-auto whitespace-pre-wrap break-words flex-col gap-4"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><ol><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"How much money do you make from your writing?" - This question can be intrusive and uncomfortable, as income from writing can vary greatly and may not be the sole focus of a writer's career.</span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"I have a great story idea. Can you write a book for me?" - Most professional writers have plenty of ideas of their own. They may not want to even listen to your idea. Getting an idea isn't the hard part. It's working on it to create a book.<br /></span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"Can you send me a free copy of your book?" - Writers have bills to pay just like everyone else. Would you ever ask a Dentist for a free dental check-up? Ora movie star for a free movie ticket?<br /></span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"Do you get all your ideas from real-life experiences?" - While personal experiences may influence a writer's work, it is crucial to respect their creativity and recognize that ideas can come from various sources.</span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"Why don't you write a story about _____?" (fill in the blank with whatever subject the person asking the question is interested in.) - Creativity and passion drive writers, and suggesting they prioritize what you value is something that they might not want to do! </span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"Are you published? Why not?" - Publishing is a complex process, and writers may have various reasons for not being published yet, including personal choice, ongoing submissions, or the competitiveness of the industry.</span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"When will your book become a bestseller?/ How many copies has your book sold " - Achieving bestseller status is unpredictable and depends on several factors beyond a writer's control, making this question unrealistic and potentially discouraging. Also writers get sales figures only twice a year. Often the writer doesnt know how many copies it has sold. The publisher takes care of it. And even the publisher will not be able to give an accurate figure till the financial book closing comes.<br /></span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"Can you give me tips on how to write a book?" - Writing is a personal process. There are many classes available online. I also have <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/profile/Preeti-Shenoy/9270711?gr_tch_ref=on" target="_blank">a class on Skillshare where I teach Creative writing. </a> A writer might be busy with their own work, and it may not be possible to give you all the tips. If you truly wish to learn and don't know where to begin it is best to take a class. </span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"Can you read my manuscript and give me feedback?" - While some writers may offer beta reading or critique services, it's essential to respect their time and understand that they may have their own writing commitments.</span></p></li><li><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"Why don't you write in a different genre?" - Writers often have specific interests and preferences, and asking them to switch genres disregards their unique style and voice.<br /><br />More tomorrow!<br />love<br />Preeti</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /></p></li></ol></div></div></div><p></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-2429441637170857432023-06-25T22:58:00.001+05:302023-06-25T22:58:15.363+05:30Sunday Stealing-- My favourite author, family recipe and more!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mh_WNQM3HbLQWnbTM4bUnkSvJxLF_4ZMK8bQxwJ6u0uam175B54iq-huTK3aAn54G4MWrsTbsUjIroddqctIXsGa4Eywx908yOo4VNihkxFGI76HqNE_hqqH3MY7caMFjIlQZTWHIvJnX55cteADs6BBZPLun6kOPUW30Er1BNol_O1FPfddTA/s4466/filip-eliasson-qaF4IhTuZv0-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4466" data-original-width="3573" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mh_WNQM3HbLQWnbTM4bUnkSvJxLF_4ZMK8bQxwJ6u0uam175B54iq-huTK3aAn54G4MWrsTbsUjIroddqctIXsGa4Eywx908yOo4VNihkxFGI76HqNE_hqqH3MY7caMFjIlQZTWHIvJnX55cteADs6BBZPLun6kOPUW30Er1BNol_O1FPfddTA/w512-h640/filip-eliasson-qaF4IhTuZv0-unsplash.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/es/@filipeliasson?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Filip Eliasson</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/qaF4IhTuZv0?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It's time for a<a href="http://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Sunday Stealing </a>again!<br />This is the last Sunday stealing of this blog marathon.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Here goes.<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1.Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have done two of the above. I’d love to bond with a horse, learn to
ride it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2. Who is your favorite author?<br />
<br />
Too many to name. Michael Morpurgo, Audrey Niffeneger, Roald Dahl and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elif Shafak immediately come to mind.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">3. Would you rather vacation in Hawaii or Alaska, and why?<br />
<br />
Alaska. I’ve been to many beach destinations and I’ve been to Maldives which
tops the list of Beach destinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
cold white Alaska it is.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">4. If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?<br />
<br />
I’d travel to the time when my father was alive so I could meet him once more.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5. What's your favorite zoo animal?<br />
<br />
I detest zoos. I think it is a horribly cruel concept. Animals belong in the wild.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">6. What's the tallest building you've been to the top of?<br />
<br />
A building in Abu Dhabi. I forget the name—but I was given the pent house right
on top. It was fascinating and wonderful to live there. I was invited as a
guest of honour representing India at the Abu Dhabi International Literature
festival. It was truly memorable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">7. How often do you buy clothes?<br />
<br />
Whenever I feel the need. I’m trying to be a minimalist now, so I give away a
lot of stuff.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">8. What was the last thing you recorded on TV?<br />
<br />
I don’t remember! This must have been back in the say when we had to record TV
shows if we missed it. But now it’s always available and we can binge watch.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">9. What was the last book you read?<br />
<br />
I’m currently reading The temporary roomie by Sarah Adams. The last one I read
was ‘You made a fool of death with your beauty’ by Akwaeki Emezi</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">10. What's your favorite type of foreign food?<br />
<br />
It’s hard to name one type. I like different things from different cuisines. I
love Vietnamese, Arabic and Spanish cuisine.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">11. What kitchen appliance do you use every day?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That would be the gas stove and knife, apart from the hot water kettle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">12. How old were you when you learned Santa wasn't real? How did you
find out?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Being raised in a Hindu household, I believed in Krishna, Rama and all
the Indian mythological stories. For me, Santa Claus was always a fairy tale,
and so I didn’t think much about Santa being real. On the other hand, I’d
visited Dwaraka as a child, seen the birth place of Krishna, been in Badrinath etc.
Santa Claus was just in the books I read.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">13. What was your favorite subject in school?<br />
<br />
English! I always topped the class in English through all my years of
schooling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">14. What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?<br />
I don’t eat meat. I imagine that must be ‘unusual’ and I would never know as I
don’t intend to eat or try meat or sea food. (I can’t even stand the thought of
it)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">15. What's your favorite family recipe?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.divyascookbook.com/2012/10/pathrodo-konkani-delicacy.html" target="_blank">Pathrodo</a>—the most essential in Gowd Saraswath Brahmin households!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-18408483239854202732023-06-24T22:58:00.004+05:302023-06-24T22:58:35.003+05:30Saturday--12 This or That questions<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi6G56ifMq5z_GTOuWXGGS_VYFuyT4gz45vfeJSDYIu794t_GaggA7aNwJnW1ahiopNfc98I_x6FGtxCn0v6-IW0ZtmftVTYFKJqc6CG1bxS3PQ1qZlbCAwRD1dqyDd_6g8dyOay3ppCRbBLqofkoh5LSFLrjGfbj-S7vLzKiqIIL_RD48cCUGA/s6502/mor-shani-6_CwJ5j_8HM-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6502" data-original-width="4335" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi6G56ifMq5z_GTOuWXGGS_VYFuyT4gz45vfeJSDYIu794t_GaggA7aNwJnW1ahiopNfc98I_x6FGtxCn0v6-IW0ZtmftVTYFKJqc6CG1bxS3PQ1qZlbCAwRD1dqyDd_6g8dyOay3ppCRbBLqofkoh5LSFLrjGfbj-S7vLzKiqIIL_RD48cCUGA/w426-h640/mor-shani-6_CwJ5j_8HM-unsplash.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /> <br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/it/@morsha?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Mor Shani</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/6_CwJ5j_8HM?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
<p></p><p> <br />Hello again!</p><p><br />For today's post I thought I'd do a <a href="https://conversationstartersworld.com/this-or-that-questions/" target="_blank"> 'This or that'</a> post.<br />Here are the questions I got. (and my answers of cousre!)<br /></p><ol><li>Skydiving or SCUBA Diving?|<br /><br />Neither. But if I had to choose one it would be sky-diving. I tried scuba diving once and I feel suffocated to breathe with all that apparatus.<br /><br /></li><li>Cable or Streaming?<br /><br />Errr--what is Netflix and Amazon Prime? <br /><br /></li><li>Live Theater or Movie?<br /><br />Movies forever!<br /><br /></li><li>Sunrise Yoga or Sunset Meditation? <br /><br />Sunset Meditation. I need my sleep.<br /><br /> </li><li>Sculpture Garden or Mural Wall?<br /><br />Definitely Sculpture garden.<br /><br /><br /></li><li>Horseback Riding or Cycling?<br /><br />Horseback riding (Although I've never ridden a horse! This must be the effect of Outlander that I'm currently watching and loving)<br /><br /><br /></li><li>Astronomy or Astrology?<br /><br />Definitely Astrology<br /><br /><br /></li><li>Football or Basketball?<br /><br />Basketball (I used to plat at national level)<br /><br /><br /></li><li>Leader or Follower?<br /><br />Leader!<br /><br /><br /></li><li>Birdsong or Ocean Waves?<br /><br />Definitely birdsong<br /><br /><br /></li><li>Streaming or YouTube?<br /><br />You-Tube<br /><br /><br /></li><li>New Clothes or New Phone?<br /><br />New phone of course!<br /><br />More tomorrow.<br />Have a pleasant day/night (depending on which part of the world you're reading this from)</li></ol><p>Love<br />Preeti<br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-25566426574554158452023-06-23T20:31:00.005+05:302023-06-23T20:31:51.740+05:30A life lesson from a plant.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oIx8BhC1R9TLsiMN2Hu5AJqt-k3k46gCZYTigktdXNQkxBtcTgdIbiJV_xUnIGXYKp7wHXJTGOvHZuGIm7tD4LIOhwBDbUgWmBmOjYOkqyeGwtqI3IJwMsXaTj6soVdbm61Swt5azCR_NVoGi6uIrkPy41L2J4T_MdKzzCE-oag39dcuO2w7LA/s4032/IMG_1816.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Mali; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oIx8BhC1R9TLsiMN2Hu5AJqt-k3k46gCZYTigktdXNQkxBtcTgdIbiJV_xUnIGXYKp7wHXJTGOvHZuGIm7tD4LIOhwBDbUgWmBmOjYOkqyeGwtqI3IJwMsXaTj6soVdbm61Swt5azCR_NVoGi6uIrkPy41L2J4T_MdKzzCE-oag39dcuO2w7LA/w480-h640/IMG_1816.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Mali; font-size: large;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Mali; font-size: large;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">For four years this plant stood in the pot without a single flower. Every time I passed it, I wondered why it wasn't blooming. I tried everything --fetiliser, water sunlight. But it stood stubbornly, with not a single flower.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Mali; font-size: large;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Whenever my mother came to visit, I'd tell her I should probably uproot it as it never flowered. My mother said 'Let it be--it can exist just as a green plant to add some greenery in your garden.'</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Mali; font-size: large;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">So I let it remain.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Mali; font-size: large;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"> Last week it bloome ! And ever since then it has been giving me a magnificent flower. Every single day. How wonderful is that!</span></span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><span style="font-family: Mali; font-size: large;"> Many a time we get imaptient when we take time to achieve things. We get disappointed when the work we're putting in does not seem to be yielding results. But underneath, deep down there's a lot happening which we aren't aware of. <br />This plant was growing strong roots, and preparing for the right moment to flower.<br />Similarly the adversities and the difficult times are preparing us for something better. It's preparing us to BLOOM so we can take out place in the sun!</span><br /><br /></span></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-52687268040460690292023-06-22T19:54:00.002+05:302023-06-22T19:58:30.203+05:30Thursday thirteen--My top 13 TV series!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXZnZ75ELLUYXQEee62i74QN4uXRrKy5_2AvZyHDmS7FFuWagqLX5friHFoCfWneQEmFaklPDPqaRJWJO2bBiSAomVnM5-AYmlRAwolUhcwUTG9TJ8ymov4KATtRqTOp-Hx0ssiZk2GYRdSTEzJlzyCrvpOl3JZRY8n5Zo8HfgllfMhBeO2fbeA/s4580/mollie-sivaram-yubCnXAA3H8-unsplash(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3053" data-original-width="4580" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXZnZ75ELLUYXQEee62i74QN4uXRrKy5_2AvZyHDmS7FFuWagqLX5friHFoCfWneQEmFaklPDPqaRJWJO2bBiSAomVnM5-AYmlRAwolUhcwUTG9TJ8ymov4KATtRqTOp-Hx0ssiZk2GYRdSTEzJlzyCrvpOl3JZRY8n5Zo8HfgllfMhBeO2fbeA/w640-h426/mollie-sivaram-yubCnXAA3H8-unsplash(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">
Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@molliesivaram?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Mollie Sivaram</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/yubCnXAA3H8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a> </span></p><p> </p><p>It's a Thursday today, and <a href="http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Thursday thirteen </a>it is!</p><p>Today I thought I'd make a list of my top 13 TV series that I've watched and loved. </p><p>Here goes (In no particular order)</p><p>1. Breaking Bad</p><p><br /></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/Y1V3AkX0oDG5q" width="480"></iframe></p><p></p><p> </p><p> 2. Game of Thrones<br /><br />(My favourite character is Cersei! (Although many hate her I really like her)<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/bad-Y1V3AkX0oDG5q"></a></p><p></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="239" src="https://giphy.com/embed/3oKIP9Cp1w1aO7Lah2" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /> </p><p>3. Narcos<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gameofthrones-game-of-thrones-hbo-3oKIP9Cp1w1aO7Lah2"></a></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="291" src="https://giphy.com/embed/xT0xeDR5iYp9DWTeVO" width="480"></iframe></p><p></p><p> </p><p>4. It's Okay Not to be Okay (K drama)<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/narcos-pablo-escobar-brindis-xT0xeDR5iYp9DWTeVO"></a></p><p></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/cniFNLyff76yd2OtHc" width="480"></iframe></p><p></p><p> </p><p>5. Crash Landing on You (K drama)</p><p> <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/TheSwoon-cniFNLyff76yd2OtHc"></a></p><p></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/Ih74sU7MBcbKhnMDQS" width="480"></iframe></p><p></p><p> </p><p>6. Band of Brothers<br /><br /> <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/TheSwoon-netflix-kdrama-crash-landing-on-you-Ih74sU7MBcbKhnMDQS"></a></p><p></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/3oEduYWc2MhOK9xCzC" width="480"></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/hbo-band-of-brothers-veterans-day-hbo-now-3oEduYWc2MhOK9xCzC"></a></p><p> </p><p>7. Sex Education<br /><br /></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/haXE7z1Sn8zk8YwlVa" width="480"></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/netflix-sex-education-season-3-ed-haXE7z1Sn8zk8YwlVa"></a></p><p> </p><p>8. Never Have I Ever</p><p><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/oKMEutgY9xEhxf0UU0" width="480"></iframe></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/netflix-never-have-i-ever-nhie-netflix-oKMEutgY9xEhxf0UU0"></a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>9. To All The Boys I've Loved Before</p><p><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/1lwR5Lx6KPtfzaTzKl" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />10. Family Man<br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/netflix-lana-condor-tatbilb-1lwR5Lx6KPtfzaTzKl"></a></p>
<p></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/RMqcBs8C5l1DTPFAJh" width="480"></iframe></p><p></p><p> </p><p>11. Farzi<br /><br /> <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/primevideoin-bhai-manojbajpayee-manojbajpai-RMqcBs8C5l1DTPFAJh"></a></p><p></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/NhbqPgFe0ygSvKxR2W" width="480"></iframe></p><p></p><p> </p><p>12. Schitts Creek</p><p></p><p><br /> <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/primevideoin-primevideo-farzi-farzionprime-NhbqPgFe0ygSvKxR2W"></a></p><p></p><p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/xUPGce1Q9vVEtaAcms" width="438"></iframe></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>13. Kim's convenience<br /><br /><br /></p><p></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://giphy.com/embed/mMDA2ZvTdzJPk6RAlP" width="480"></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/kimsconvenience-cbc-kims-convenience-mMDA2ZvTdzJPk6RAlP"></a></p><p>
14. Atypical<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/cYRThEDzSEMebAzNJ7" width="480"></iframe></p><p></p><p> </p><p>I know it's 14, but I couldn't resist mentioning Atypical..It's a beautiful show.</p><p>I also had to leave out many other shows I've watched like Sabrina, Stranger Things, Suits and Gossip Girl. <br /></p><p> </p><p>How many of the above have you watched? Tell me in comments. 👇🏽👇🏽<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/netflix-atypical-cYRThEDzSEMebAzNJ7"></a></p><p></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-6161599548262660882023-06-21T22:18:00.005+05:302023-06-21T22:18:46.256+05:30Wordless Wednesday. Let's make a splash!<p> It's wednesday and so <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">we're wordless!</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdOyVZKE02XU8pR1JcGfB_xr3u2l3R-IHkU8rSk-09kKeyN-RGqN6AHLdUKti_D8xgrHmJCtgdif3g7LRfA4dMjjTGfzFacfrWu8xZcdFaKn4jpgIEfxNsoEtYhcaSi6B-3AOVoU9-y0Yfgt7tj6q239HmNHuJFJBdgS9GjV2YW5FH18Vak4bFA/s3088/IMG_5417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdOyVZKE02XU8pR1JcGfB_xr3u2l3R-IHkU8rSk-09kKeyN-RGqN6AHLdUKti_D8xgrHmJCtgdif3g7LRfA4dMjjTGfzFacfrWu8xZcdFaKn4jpgIEfxNsoEtYhcaSi6B-3AOVoU9-y0Yfgt7tj6q239HmNHuJFJBdgS9GjV2YW5FH18Vak4bFA/w480-h640/IMG_5417.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Can you guess which place this is? Tell me in comments!<br /><br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-59703001837955562472023-06-20T21:49:00.003+05:302023-06-20T22:50:39.762+05:30Travel Tuesday--The country which makes the best coffee<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS0_XkPp0y04YCaib4j-VZvFaY-EENAaEPyBJYx7FQdjq0FFKN_q4PCkWulWXXnpb4TRq0CYkMjW5aj9AaHwjI6qcVKqqU-o1mDqTIR8Q2Arwu-TwiC8Bozjoq0PWh8EPJgpPqTiVaVQ43wH2_4kpGyzmAqeitkVuwM4OrHw6s3zl7BH52Xv7yw/s4896/luca-bravo-O453M2Liufs-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4896" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS0_XkPp0y04YCaib4j-VZvFaY-EENAaEPyBJYx7FQdjq0FFKN_q4PCkWulWXXnpb4TRq0CYkMjW5aj9AaHwjI6qcVKqqU-o1mDqTIR8Q2Arwu-TwiC8Bozjoq0PWh8EPJgpPqTiVaVQ43wH2_4kpGyzmAqeitkVuwM4OrHw6s3zl7BH52Xv7yw/w640-h426/luca-bravo-O453M2Liufs-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/pt-br/@lucabravo?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Luca Bravo</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/images/travel?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
</p><p> </p><p> Hello again!<br /></p><p>It's Travel Tuesday! I answer questions about travelling today. Here are<a href="https://www.thecareerbreaksite.com/blog/100-questions-to-ask-a-traveller" target="_blank"> five fun questions </a>and my answers of course! <br /></p><p><b>1.Who is the person at home that you miss the most?</b></p><p>When my dog was alive, it was definitely her I missed the most. It was heartbreaking for me to leave her and travel. She was like my shadow, always stuck to me. We were inseparable. On the days I travelled she would be really sad and wouldn't move much or eat much. (Otherwise she was a whirlwind of energy). I miss her so much 😔😫💔💔 </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfuAbtqI26cmTUv4VStJizy-v6IlWs-OZylLr8pERSO2qa2sie18id__v5BE8vd33FaZWRWMCmXkOvy4mpGlcsBzl8oG2krTEm4dhPkKLlScPnDgdxWzCsjGHMrpKnbYoynKFs0LbTETUAdwn2TrlVxlh4bGP42ZHpa02k3UzoLWqEdpGWoVGNw/s1390/Screenshot%202023-06-20%20at%209.09.11%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfuAbtqI26cmTUv4VStJizy-v6IlWs-OZylLr8pERSO2qa2sie18id__v5BE8vd33FaZWRWMCmXkOvy4mpGlcsBzl8oG2krTEm4dhPkKLlScPnDgdxWzCsjGHMrpKnbYoynKFs0LbTETUAdwn2TrlVxlh4bGP42ZHpa02k3UzoLWqEdpGWoVGNw/w288-h400/Screenshot%202023-06-20%20at%209.09.11%20PM.png" width="288" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>2.What home comfort do you miss the most ?</b><br /></p><p>To be honest, when I am travelling I don't think about home at all. I switch off completely. There's no point in undertaking travel if you are going to miss 'home comfort' --whatever those may be. I exist in the moment completely, when I am travelling. Also I choose clean, comfortable places to stay. As long as I have that I know that I will eventually be going back home, and therefore I travel with this mindset . Hence I don't miss home at all. Wherever I make my bed is home!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b> 3.What has been the most interesting item of food you've tasted?</b> </p><p>In Bhutan I tasted some stir fried vegetables. It had whole red chillies and oyster sauce. I loved this particular dish. I also absolutelty loved Teh tarik which I had in singapore. In Switzerland I had a high protein bread which was sold everywhere in Coop stores and I loved that as well.<br /></p><p> </p><p><b>4.What food from your home country do you miss the most?<br /></b></p><p>I guess that would be idlis! I can eat idlis anytime.Although I must say that I am extremely non-fussy when it comes to food. I can eat anything as long as it is healthy , preferably with high protein.<b><br /></b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> 5.Which country makes the best coffee or tea?</b></p><p> Undoubtedly the best coffee I've had was in Egypt, and it was Turkish coffee! I love strong black coffee, and I have it without sugar.<br /></p><p>You can read <a href="https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-blog/best-cafes-in-cairo" target="_blank">this article </a>for the best cafes in Egypt. When I had travelled there, I'd just gone to a small one. I feel those ones serve the best ones.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7SuV8ehrcYVAiKe8_vmObiDpDQNeADh21RAVa6ozw2eCdKCPrSHMAaq3CtmKr6Ewko3bdz_1yDaR5BNBXuBLPxVq2F4hqkTPnn3v8VUYnPDyWLSgjpZWO_XuRy37onGSeqQJGuM-wfJ2lmmg7O_RgHsgt1XlXDikQc92VL3L5qbnMVOZ09GerQ/s1954/Screenshot%202023-06-20%20at%209.42.14%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="1954" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7SuV8ehrcYVAiKe8_vmObiDpDQNeADh21RAVa6ozw2eCdKCPrSHMAaq3CtmKr6Ewko3bdz_1yDaR5BNBXuBLPxVq2F4hqkTPnn3v8VUYnPDyWLSgjpZWO_XuRy37onGSeqQJGuM-wfJ2lmmg7O_RgHsgt1XlXDikQc92VL3L5qbnMVOZ09GerQ/w640-h402/Screenshot%202023-06-20%20at%209.42.14%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">pic credit<a href="https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/" target="_blank">: https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/</a></span><br /><p><br /></p><p>I hope you enjoyed this edition of Travel Tuesday as much as I enjoyed writing it :)<br />If have any questions about my travels--do ask! I will be happy to address it in the next edition.</p><p>Come back for a new post tomorrow.<br /></p><p>Love<br />Preeti<br /></p><p></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-68631051832981829092023-06-19T21:08:00.003+05:302023-06-19T21:08:26.564+05:30Love in the Storm--a poem.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdc0FjgFTREJ1krWLlNUCi4WqnuluX2FPGlB_eDV1bMvQEDfYBZGt6TFhYFCP86wozMKkLq23S43OMdeqzYpPq14vZNkflhJDNL9oD3TMtHzhstdhPrfdwYwcqcq8QmoAXzu1VeiE1COwP4OAWK61RVRIKMwN-vBV4Ue0lBUajo3b32NlvZF6rQ/s5170/marcus-woodbridge-cWQDPiVe5yo-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5170" data-original-width="3448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdc0FjgFTREJ1krWLlNUCi4WqnuluX2FPGlB_eDV1bMvQEDfYBZGt6TFhYFCP86wozMKkLq23S43OMdeqzYpPq14vZNkflhJDNL9oD3TMtHzhstdhPrfdwYwcqcq8QmoAXzu1VeiE1COwP4OAWK61RVRIKMwN-vBV4Ue0lBUajo3b32NlvZF6rQ/w426-h640/marcus-woodbridge-cWQDPiVe5yo-unsplash.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@marcuswoodbridge?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Marcus Woodbridge</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/cWQDPiVe5yo?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> For today's post I thought I'd write a magnetic poetry. I don't know how many of you know what it is. You can buy a magnetic word kit, and make poems out of the words that come when you pick them randomly. You then join the words to make a poem.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> You can click <a href="https://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/original/kit/" target="_blank">HERE to see an online version</a> of it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">This is the poem I made:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTxMvgOBEmfs7ShUH5BHKqdmZOrVOa3BNgGMd9Uy3f0EarAVSDvUkE1UgpN6RScUXk9Yd9K9cnly4vwcZSleRYqLEHcaAbgpAiN8zUOXXRbONctPvYO55vRbam2Q-c4J6Zxicf-FbQlwvdNhl_MjoC1yoRZgLy2bn9Wiz3fmI4AXOJ260GU_AGw/s1252/messageImage_1687188270194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1238" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTxMvgOBEmfs7ShUH5BHKqdmZOrVOa3BNgGMd9Uy3f0EarAVSDvUkE1UgpN6RScUXk9Yd9K9cnly4vwcZSleRYqLEHcaAbgpAiN8zUOXXRbONctPvYO55vRbam2Q-c4J6Zxicf-FbQlwvdNhl_MjoC1yoRZgLy2bn9Wiz3fmI4AXOJ260GU_AGw/w632-h640/messageImage_1687188270194.jpg" width="632" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> A bare whisper</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Light as a mist <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">How smoothly the bitter dream</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Urges you through sweet pictures</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Black as a scream</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">A still shadow</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">some say is death</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Yet I have to trudge on</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">With an ache like rust</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">As I live for you</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">A thousand times over</span></p><pre><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "ArialMT";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "ArialMT";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "ArialMT";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">© 2023 Preeti Shenoy</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'ArialMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></span>
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "ArialMT";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">For more poems click <span><a href="http://justamotheroftwo.blogspot.com/search/label/Poems" style="text-decoration: none;">here</a></span>. Some poems have already appeared in print. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.</span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'ArialMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">© 2014 Preeti Shenoy</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: xx-small;">For more poems click <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://justamotheroftwo.blogspot.com/search/label/Poems" style="text-decoration: none;">here</a></span>. Some poems have already appeared in print. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.</span></b></span> - See more at: http://blog.preetishenoy.com/2014/08/do-i-tell-you-poem-blog-marathon-day-7.html#sthash.IopfCRtF.dpuf</div>
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</p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-86713329521428152332023-06-18T20:31:00.004+05:302023-06-18T20:31:58.641+05:30Sunday Stealing--with someone famous!<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo49w7fdrUyg5Xl5hRNpIryfNJOgKwdnlebK8g6c8ydDpjf29tXaApsO4W7feK7IRacepY6reDBmE5SwP0lsHPNKY5sTtV0v4wUZGihQgAizaexV95sdTyh22KQMmwV_VShJSuUW_dMxvBrF01aZUwuMT0DX5ucyqModTtFl6u0eOqx--3s6c/s6000/minh-pham-OtXADkUh3-I-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo49w7fdrUyg5Xl5hRNpIryfNJOgKwdnlebK8g6c8ydDpjf29tXaApsO4W7feK7IRacepY6reDBmE5SwP0lsHPNKY5sTtV0v4wUZGihQgAizaexV95sdTyh22KQMmwV_VShJSuUW_dMxvBrF01aZUwuMT0DX5ucyqModTtFl6u0eOqx--3s6c/w426-h640/minh-pham-OtXADkUh3-I-unsplash.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@minhphamdesign?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Minh Pham</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/OtXADkUh3-I?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> It's Sunday again! Where does time fly to? It's time for a<a href="http://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/2023/06/sunday-stealing_02078394060.html" target="_blank"><b> Sunday Stealing.</b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><b>(Sunday stealing has been going on for over 15 years now and I used to take part in my early days of blogging. It's pretty commendable that it still continues. Kudos to Bev for hosting it every sunday and spreading warmth in the blogging community. </b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">1) What is your favorite way to spend a lazy day?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> Sleeping and reading. Is there any other way to spend a Sunday? (Oh--but I went to the gym and had a superb workout today. But I did read and sleep the whole morning!) </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">2) What do you look forward to every week?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">When I am working on a book, I do look forward to finishing my word count and tracking my progress. But these days I am not writing (I already have three completed manuscripts). So I most look forward to my trip to UK which is coming up, as it means I can be with my daughter again! <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">3) Name three pet peeves you currently have.</span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> People who are cruel to animals and also people who are rude, arrogant and think too much of themselves.<br /></span></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> People who damage books they read by carelessly leaving it with the spine open and making the pages dog-eared.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">The know-it-alls who give unsolicited advice and also people <br /></span></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> <br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">4) If you were to win an all expense paid vacation
for two weeks to anywhere in the world, where would you choose to go? What are
some of the things you would like to experience while you were there?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">The blessing is that I am at a point in my life, where I indeed can afford a vacation to anywhere in the world. (and I am so grateful for that as I have worked hard to be able to afford it). The places I'd like to visit are (in no specific order)</span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Japan</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">South Korea</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Indonesia</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Montenegro</span></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Spain</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">In India I've been to most places except Leh. So I'd love to visit Leh. I'd like to revisit Varanasi over and over.<br /></span></span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">5) What was one of your favorite toys as a kid? Did
you save any special things from your childhood that you still have today?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br />I had several dolls and I'd named them all. I was also very fond of books right from a young age. I do have a steel rattle which my paternal grandmother had got specially for me, when I was a baby.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">6) What is your favorite holiday? What is your
least favorite holiday?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> There are too many favourite holidays to name. My trip to Bhutan where we climbed up the mountain to reach Tiger's nest is unforgettable. I'd love to go back. I also loved Maldives where we took an ocean villa both times we went. We could get down from our villa into the sea and swim. Recently I loved my Switzerland trip.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Worst holiday--I've never had one. Thank Lord! (What a nightmare a bad holiday would be. Such a waste of money too)<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">7) Have you ever met anyone famous? What concerts
have you attended?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> Oh yes--I have met tonnes of famous people. One of them has even interviewed</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">me. <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3BhnU_Isa0A" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> I was also invited to be a speaker along with another very famous person (Bruce Dickenson) This picture was clicked in the green room where he and I were waiting to speak. (He was speaking after me)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZjZLbJI25Iw1biKlx3xYMuJd6XyIfEkellx6Y1-qYSCRb6hM0yUJn7gDe9BliwMgnLRyGu14lSpTnB5zfDywqgQs8ZRux3w7xDIq_EwlRCt6XgovL-5rE1-RszjcPcz4EiF94whQPVrydk7numtm0gnqPyVfjy83s_bFyQR-3yyS7KiFBL0/s1342/Screenshot%202023-06-18%20at%208.21.56%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1284" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZjZLbJI25Iw1biKlx3xYMuJd6XyIfEkellx6Y1-qYSCRb6hM0yUJn7gDe9BliwMgnLRyGu14lSpTnB5zfDywqgQs8ZRux3w7xDIq_EwlRCt6XgovL-5rE1-RszjcPcz4EiF94whQPVrydk7numtm0gnqPyVfjy83s_bFyQR-3yyS7KiFBL0/w383-h400/Screenshot%202023-06-18%20at%208.21.56%20PM.png" width="383" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">8) Are there any expressions that people use that
really annoy you? If so, what are they?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> I dislike the term 'Hubby' and 'wifey'. I don't know why---they are harmless but it irks me a great deal. Also So many people call me 'Pretty' and they think they're being original. I've heard it a million times before and it annoys me.<br />I also hate it when my old old friends keep repeating t 'You're a celebrity now.' (I mean, if they say it once I am really okay..But if someone keeps repeating it, it irks me because I truly believe I don't think of myself as a 'celebrity' and I'm quite grounded and down-to-earth.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">9) Do you like your name? Are you named after
anyone? Is there a story how you got your name? Would you change it if you
could? If so, what name would you give yourself?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> I quite like my name, although its a very common one. It was a popular name in the seventies. There were always at lest 2 or 3 Preetis in my class.<br />No, I wouldn't change my name at all.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">10) It is said that it's the little things that
make life worth living. Name five of those little things in your life</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">The love I get from my closest people </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">The love I get from you all--my readers.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">My writing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">My gym (I know--I am such a gym rat now)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">My art. <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.75pt; margin: 3.75pt 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</span></style></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFgQvkgGB5v15uVk7kQ44tt8MDRRE4_NKg2e85hn_ww1wf4Vz2fmdbwc2avFNEjd2dDsfM5GurPzKyHoC08Crp4hgJ8KQ8e90400dBwdSxhhZjmJ1WJZQiz3aUJz95KVdAH2ZJta67jamUM8X-K6EjzhEHtTfUHMReHIEEkOsnug3g02VRaI/s6000/minh-pham-OtXADkUh3-I-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFgQvkgGB5v15uVk7kQ44tt8MDRRE4_NKg2e85hn_ww1wf4Vz2fmdbwc2avFNEjd2dDsfM5GurPzKyHoC08Crp4hgJ8KQ8e90400dBwdSxhhZjmJ1WJZQiz3aUJz95KVdAH2ZJta67jamUM8X-K6EjzhEHtTfUHMReHIEEkOsnug3g02VRaI/s320/minh-pham-OtXADkUh3-I-unsplash.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA2X4il89j4NjYjnV-G1ZbsjYvzXzh6JGGFfcm6511z2K_1BnA-ug424JwfNFTTWJ9EFL5KBUMuMMh61-nT1qQuh38I3t3KhaPzf0PjOXjf72FTgzP6O_zm5PUz1O1IbYvv9EyQwia7Z-qdVLZKDke869D2nk0bBl0tQHqQmocB5w8syv8V8/s6000/minh-pham-OtXADkUh3-I-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA2X4il89j4NjYjnV-G1ZbsjYvzXzh6JGGFfcm6511z2K_1BnA-ug424JwfNFTTWJ9EFL5KBUMuMMh61-nT1qQuh38I3t3KhaPzf0PjOXjf72FTgzP6O_zm5PUz1O1IbYvv9EyQwia7Z-qdVLZKDke869D2nk0bBl0tQHqQmocB5w8syv8V8/s320/minh-pham-OtXADkUh3-I-unsplash.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-89302385986187788922023-06-17T23:40:00.004+05:302023-06-17T23:40:26.615+05:30How daily journalling changed my life.<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3bOoc9VlhFyrUlpwv4-G73tr9vWDJHn5PMyKyBV7wPFNZaWX_q7yPB_jTSqvTvnt-meox_V2et5btwiZ7YGNWy1BLkrn18En0GxOHcSFUZghXQss0jOZ0RVFj5CjUGoN5W351RhInKTYHfSfWQpg8KEOD70TVvN9DD-nG9ynCKPaCoW0A24/s5472/marcos-paulo-prado-tcyW6Im5Uug-unsplash(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3bOoc9VlhFyrUlpwv4-G73tr9vWDJHn5PMyKyBV7wPFNZaWX_q7yPB_jTSqvTvnt-meox_V2et5btwiZ7YGNWy1BLkrn18En0GxOHcSFUZghXQss0jOZ0RVFj5CjUGoN5W351RhInKTYHfSfWQpg8KEOD70TVvN9DD-nG9ynCKPaCoW0A24/w426-h640/marcos-paulo-prado-tcyW6Im5Uug-unsplash(1).jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@marcospradobr?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Marcos Paulo Prado</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/tcyW6Im5Uug?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span> <br /></p><p>We live in extremely stressful and busy times with our attention spans getting even shorter than Insta stories! In this bustling world we inhabit, time evaporates in the blink of an eye. </p><p>If we take a moment each day to reflect and record our thoughts, it can become an invaluable practice which can transform your life . I've been writing daily journals ever since I can remember. It is an age-old tradition, which serves as a powerful tool for self-expression, personal growth, and emotional well-being. </p><p>Whether done in the form of pen and paper (I use an old fashioned fountain pen to this day!) or through digital means, this daily habit can be hugely beneficial. I am listing here a few of the ways it has helped me over the years.<br /></p><ol><li><p><b>Emotional Catharsis</b>:
Daily journaling acts as a cathartic outlet, allowing us to unload our burdens, frustrations, and anxieties onto the blank pages. By putting our thoughts and emotions into words, we create a safe space to process and release what weighs us down. This release can significantly reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall mental well-being.</p></li><li><p><b>Enhanced Self-Awareness:</b>
Regularly documenting our experiences and emotions grants us the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves. It provides a mirror into our innermost thoughts, desires, and fears. Journaling encourages self-reflection, helping us recognize patterns, identify triggers, and gain insights into our behaviors and beliefs. With increased self-awareness, we can make conscious choices to align our actions with our values and work towards personal growth.</p></li><li><p><b>Problem Solving and Decision Making:
</b>Writing in a journal allows us to analyze situations objectively and view them from a new perspective. It aids in problem-solving by enabling us to examine challenges, brainstorm ideas, and consider alternative solutions. By documenting our decision-making processes, we can trace the reasoning behind our choices and evaluate their outcomes. This reflective practice fosters a deeper understanding of ourselves and refines our ability to make well-informed decisions in the future.</p></li><li><p><b>Emotional Resilience and Gratitude</b>:
In times of adversity, daily journaling serves as an anchor, providing a means to express gratitude and find silver linings. By deliberately focusing on positive experiences, blessings, and lessons learned, we cultivate resilience and develop a more optimistic outlook. Reflecting on moments of joy, accomplishments, and personal growth can uplift our spirits and remind us of our capacity to overcome challenges.</p></li><li><p><b>Capturing Memories and Personal Growth:
</b>A journal chronicles the journey of our lives, preserving memories, experiences, and personal milestones. As time passes, revisiting these entries provides a precious window into the past, allowing us to relive cherished moments and witness our own growth. It becomes a testament to our evolving perspectives, aspirations, and achievements, fostering a sense of self-continuity and serving as a valuable resource for future reflection.</p></li></ol><p> For me, my daily journal is a sacred space to unload my thoughts, nurture my emotional well-being, and to gain insights into my own mind. Most people start writing in a journal and then stop because they don't know what to write or it becomes boring as their daily routine never varies. One of the things you can do is to make each day different and interesting by focusing on a small thing that was different, which gave you joy.</p><p>You could also record things that you're grateful for. Or you could stick pictures.</p><p><br /></p><p>Would you like me to create a course on Skillshare where I'd guide you to keep a daily journal? (Like a 14 day course where you follow a prompt and I help you make an interesting page each day? All the lessons would be delivered instantly by video. You could <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/profile/Preeti-Shenoy/9270711?gr_tch_ref=on" target="_blank">check out my course on Creative writing. </a>to know the format.<br /></p><p>Let me know in comments whether you'd be interested in such a course?<br /></p><p><br />Love<br />Preeti<br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-18911645840962389352023-06-16T23:56:00.001+05:302023-06-17T13:28:20.027+05:30My number one tip for achieving your dream life.<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-Ns2FQu8ctOugW1GRCW0WXSPInxBH86Mw3C_dQAGQcVyk2ZBI0iptk9wvtTEl_iYx7eyaknjtYbHKxhDQ099zkfB_yZSnWZy4vaCBJRZtvp3LdoouagDdD2n2Bc5KEs3MG6QiNHTBLe-uN-W3SgTp5DtX1vtciF-kwFnCEIRNUNq09NiJxQ/s3000/joshua-earle-9idqIGrLuTE-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-Ns2FQu8ctOugW1GRCW0WXSPInxBH86Mw3C_dQAGQcVyk2ZBI0iptk9wvtTEl_iYx7eyaknjtYbHKxhDQ099zkfB_yZSnWZy4vaCBJRZtvp3LdoouagDdD2n2Bc5KEs3MG6QiNHTBLe-uN-W3SgTp5DtX1vtciF-kwFnCEIRNUNq09NiJxQ/w640-h426/joshua-earle-9idqIGrLuTE-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@joshuaearle?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Joshua Earle</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/9idqIGrLuTE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
</p><p>Many a time in my interviews, I am asked 'What's the one piece of advice you wish you had heard when you were starting your career?'</p><p>The people who ask this, I am guessing, want a tip which they can implement in their lives, a tip from someone they perceive as successful, and a tip when followed would give them a jump start in their career. But the only tip I truly have is a clichéd one--it is to work hard and to never give up. Clichés are often true and perhaps that's why many overlook it as it seems too simple to be true.</p><p>Today, I'm living my dream. It's something I never thought would be possible. I've worked hard for whatever I have achieved today (Fifteen bestsellers whihc have sold millions of copies and touched people's lives). I've struggled, faced rejections and made it on my own. There was no one to guide me , give me advice, hold my hand or pick up the pieces when I was down. I wanted it badly and I worked every single day towards my goal. Some days I might not have achieved it. But I was back the next day, chipping away bit by bit.</p><p>Consistency pays rich dividends. So be consistent.</p><p>Also the other piece of advice I have for someone starting out is 'Do not listen to others.' There will be a hundred people who tell you it cannot be done. If you share your dream with anyone it is likely that they will not see it the same way that you do. So be your own best friend. Reach inside yourself and find that reservoir of courage.Set it free and immerse yourself inside it. Fight, fight hard for your dreams. If you don't do it, no one else will do it for you.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>More tomorrow<br />Love </p><p>Preeti<br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-82692392364550625682023-06-15T23:05:00.007+05:302023-06-15T23:05:40.671+05:30My top 13 books (Thursday thirteen)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxOSZlorjFobJSXnYNK5VtVSJVc_ThDbee1Por1gf7QmNpNzBWYEdGB1TqBdqUDYbhd1-Y0w4lWdhW6DQ-BHXAl1UWiVuIJ-Rf9QuBp6ZWw5am3vSYgDylx34FWNPC-uEpNfilxp26hmdHyBk-pAyhj9hNZbiCTXR4WESP2p-D30GgbWNmxs/s3981/annie-spratt-oOEz7c7V3gk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3981" data-original-width="3109" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxOSZlorjFobJSXnYNK5VtVSJVc_ThDbee1Por1gf7QmNpNzBWYEdGB1TqBdqUDYbhd1-Y0w4lWdhW6DQ-BHXAl1UWiVuIJ-Rf9QuBp6ZWw5am3vSYgDylx34FWNPC-uEpNfilxp26hmdHyBk-pAyhj9hNZbiCTXR4WESP2p-D30GgbWNmxs/w500-h640/annie-spratt-oOEz7c7V3gk-unsplash.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Annie Spratt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/oOEz7c7V3gk?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
<p> Hello there!<br /> </p><p>Today's post is a <a href="http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Thursday thirteen</a> as it's been a while since I did this list. I keep reading and my list of books read grows and grows. Therefore it is only natural that my favourites change over time as I discover new books and new authors.<br /></p><p>Here is my list of top 13 books, ( in no particular order):</p><p> 1. Time Traveller's Wife-- Audrey Niffeneger</p><p>2. 10 Minutes 38 seconds in This Strange World --Elif Shafak</p><p>3. Lessons in Chemistry--Bonnie Garmus</p><p>4. People on Platform 5--Clare Pooley</p><p>5. Flatshare-- Beth O leary</p><p>6. The Off Limits Rule --Sarah Adams</p><p>7. Carrie Soto is back--Taylor Jenkin Reids</p><p>8. Goodby Things--Fumio Sasaki</p><p>9. Looking Inward --Swami Purnachaitanya</p><p>10. Collected stories of Roald Dahl</p><p>11. All books by Michael Morpurgo</p><p>12. Beneath a Scarlet Sky--Mark Sullivan</p><p>13.Aristotle and Dantes discover the secrets of the Universe --Benjamin Alire Saenz</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope you discovered at least a few new books in this list. Enjoy!<br /></p><p>More tomorrow.<br />Love </p><p>Preeti<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-18120361817992080792023-06-14T21:55:00.001+05:302023-06-14T21:55:13.834+05:30Wordless wednesday -- Harder Kulm, Switzerland<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRlg0QOgSM5zqY0vg09dG5G7EDDfgGfjpAVrztFqnclQtgEqujRjuh50YiVBq7Z8WhU_HrFHBfyo1xHOZjBxYfWP-I21m1WYlsUBMPDl4v979En_5Yl1foC50LwK-8I3u15vpUKYPefQocrZOvB69Q9Xfn0hJUPM1eBX-j3DUkIuVCRajSQg/s4032/IMG_0068.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRlg0QOgSM5zqY0vg09dG5G7EDDfgGfjpAVrztFqnclQtgEqujRjuh50YiVBq7Z8WhU_HrFHBfyo1xHOZjBxYfWP-I21m1WYlsUBMPDl4v979En_5Yl1foC50LwK-8I3u15vpUKYPefQocrZOvB69Q9Xfn0hJUPM1eBX-j3DUkIuVCRajSQg/w480-h640/IMG_0068.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is my post today for <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wordless Wednesday</a><br /><p></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-76091710209258549962023-06-13T23:21:00.004+05:302023-06-14T11:04:16.722+05:30Travel Tuesday! My top destinations in India as well as internationally.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4jLH5Ai5n1SSQlAkyh_WpFUJ6IYM_BDkmSUxkEHsdAMXP_yz8pyiUyLUI6SnAWrV0nnGIIQ43SXMbFyPxn0F8XvCVc8fwSt-th2jjEChzQkydh_fM9ZmFc6xpHS4RxK_dxV7HhEVLh21RnJrcRViI_yx83dJUES2uRQ0IEqoW71WEQqC4pk/s1326/Screenshot%202023-06-13%20at%2010.57.22%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1260" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4jLH5Ai5n1SSQlAkyh_WpFUJ6IYM_BDkmSUxkEHsdAMXP_yz8pyiUyLUI6SnAWrV0nnGIIQ43SXMbFyPxn0F8XvCVc8fwSt-th2jjEChzQkydh_fM9ZmFc6xpHS4RxK_dxV7HhEVLh21RnJrcRViI_yx83dJUES2uRQ0IEqoW71WEQqC4pk/w608-h640/Screenshot%202023-06-13%20at%2010.57.22%20PM.png" width="608" /></a></div><br /><p>Hello there!<br /></p><p>How have you been doing? It's Tuesday again and we're almost half way through the blog marathon. I can't believe how fast time flies.</p><p><br />One of my great passions in life (apart from art, writing and fitness) is travel. So I thought I'd start a Travel Tuesday where I answer questions about my travels. Anyone who wants to ask me any question about my travels--please do so in my comment box, and I shall answer it on my Travel Tuesdays.<br /></p><p>For the first travel Tuesday--here are five questions (and my answer</p><p> </p><p>1. What's your favourite place so far?<br /><br />It is very hard for me to choose. In India, I absolutely love everything about Kerala (It's where my mother lives too. ) No matter how many times I visit I never get tired of Kerala. Many of my books are set in Kerala too. The other place I fell in love with was Varanasi. Varanasi is not a place--it is an emotion.</p><p>Here I am on the early morning sunrise boat ride in Varanasi.</p><ol><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSrVfdq4c93Cu3jnhFNeY8Daoh_s5f69zZRTL_8mefTfx-oYH9uPwGcTkdUt2f3VVLRd-5bvUMofuXDQEv-bm1iYyXlx2ueumy4nM0mOoYRZRi81Eg_3SYmD30WgvnTT_v2NL_C5PkRQBsRnSSXnJLdIBwsWnZWcI4gJ0vz-A4z9TT_cZ_ik/s1298/Screenshot%202023-06-13%20at%2010.56.16%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1298" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSrVfdq4c93Cu3jnhFNeY8Daoh_s5f69zZRTL_8mefTfx-oYH9uPwGcTkdUt2f3VVLRd-5bvUMofuXDQEv-bm1iYyXlx2ueumy4nM0mOoYRZRi81Eg_3SYmD30WgvnTT_v2NL_C5PkRQBsRnSSXnJLdIBwsWnZWcI4gJ0vz-A4z9TT_cZ_ik/w640-h478/Screenshot%202023-06-13%20at%2010.56.16%20PM.png" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also loved Meghalaya. There was so much beauty and the skies were nothing like I'd seen before. </div>Outside India, I loved Maldives, Bhutan, Switzerland and Edinburgh. In the pic below you can see Edinburgh castle behind me.<br /></li></ol><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjG1koT-45ZwZgNWXXmfcMzulpQzsZn6MEXMIp5D7Ke3DOArqi3AyPerudjaD69hpS_WT2E-5GXu6f0OwdHs8qn9FPOnt13fQctEbe9oNWPkAu3fdfcdnAkiUqQkXFrL-nR5ZDJUT4l1YxS6SdhjoXWY7YUUTceytiBp5G5po59E2od--XL4Y/s1302/Screenshot%202023-06-13%20at%2011.10.14%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1050" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjG1koT-45ZwZgNWXXmfcMzulpQzsZn6MEXMIp5D7Ke3DOArqi3AyPerudjaD69hpS_WT2E-5GXu6f0OwdHs8qn9FPOnt13fQctEbe9oNWPkAu3fdfcdnAkiUqQkXFrL-nR5ZDJUT4l1YxS6SdhjoXWY7YUUTceytiBp5G5po59E2od--XL4Y/w516-h640/Screenshot%202023-06-13%20at%2011.10.14%20PM.png" width="516" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div>2. What place is on top of your bucket list?<br />I guess I would like to travel to Spain, Japan and Brazil.<p></p><p> </p><p>3.What can't you travel without?<br />Books to read and my sketchbook and paints. All are a *must* . (Apart from the practical things like passport and enough money)</p><p>4. Do you prefer solo travel or with someone else?</p><p>If the person has the same travel goals as me, then I'd like a companion. But if we have different travel goals, then by myself. Either way, I love to travel.</p><p><br /></p><p>5. If you could swim with the dolphins or go shark diving which would you prefer?<br />Of course the dolphins. I am not exactly comfortable with diving. I don't enjoy the sensation of being under water, with the diving suit.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><br />Did you enjoy this travel post? Let me know in comments.</p><p>Also which is your home town? What are the three places you would take me to
if I came to visit you in your hometown? Please tell me below 👇🏽 and I
might add it to my travel destinations!</p><p>More tomorrow.<br />Sleep well!<br />Love <br />Preeti<br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-90646398020953178362023-06-12T22:18:00.003+05:302023-06-12T22:18:17.454+05:30Fate and Destiny--Is it true that what happens to us is destined?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGVyisiESQ2q22Gc-MujUSOwapyr0VaWF4r_NuueXzvJx8Hs7eoZI0cOgPZH9Jf_T2s_2QCJmRxthgrUgOyKTU0PNc4a_MUwoUAE5Qc4hdhTHZtJqi0frn8u45_PLO4ziWhnRhNKTOGrh4f5lmBUYD_YSEJ3E7M1OCXV41Ci5b4FRDwSodH0/s1984/Screenshot%202023-06-12%20at%2010.09.50%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1984" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGVyisiESQ2q22Gc-MujUSOwapyr0VaWF4r_NuueXzvJx8Hs7eoZI0cOgPZH9Jf_T2s_2QCJmRxthgrUgOyKTU0PNc4a_MUwoUAE5Qc4hdhTHZtJqi0frn8u45_PLO4ziWhnRhNKTOGrh4f5lmBUYD_YSEJ3E7M1OCXV41Ci5b4FRDwSodH0/w640-h406/Screenshot%202023-06-12%20at%2010.09.50%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I'd got featured on Bazaar India along with Shruti Hassan, Kubra Sait, Neha Dhupia and Zohra Shakti where we all answered questions of Fate and Destiny.<br /><br />So for today's post I thought I'd share what I answered.<p></p><p>You can also read the whole article <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.in/celebrity/story/five-fantastic-women-on-fatalism-and-their-date-with-destiny-565524-2023-05-17" target="_blank">HERE </a>(and read what the others said about Fate and Destiny as well)</p><p>Here's what I believe 👇🏽 <br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Mali;"><br /></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;">I do believe a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one
hundred percent in Fate/Destiny. Ironically, I also believe that one charts
their own destiny. The two might seem contradictory but they are not. While we
cannot fight what is to come, we can certainly take steps towards our goals.
Even dreams need<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to be fuelled with
actions, if they are to come true. However, if you did not get what you
desired, I firmly believe it is because there’s something better in store for
you. There were certain lessons to be learnt from that failure or the
rejection, and it is preparing you for the better things that lie ahead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;">I’m a tarot card reader, and unlike astrology where certain
things/events are ‘fixed’ or destined, the tarot just shows us what could
possibly lie ahead. Tarot is like a GPS which shows us what possibly could be
on the path chosen by you. But it is up to us to choose the path and make the
effort to travel down that path.<br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Mali;"><br />
Destiny has certainly played a big role in my life. While I’ve always written,
I never thought I’d become a published author with 15 books, all bestsellers.
The sequence of events which led to this was destiny. However, the sheer
hard-work and discipline it took to get to this point in my life, was all my
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;">My father who I was very close to, passed away all of a
sudden in 2006, in the middle of a conversation with my mother. He had
absolutely no age related ailments,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
was in fact very fit. He was 66. To overcome the deep<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>grief which I was drowning in, I started a
blog, where I began writing about mundane moments of life, which make it
special. Life is not always grand, but when we cherish the smallest of things,
it becomes magical. When my father was snatched from me (that was destiny) it
propelled me towards writing with a ferocity, I never knew I was capable of.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;">The lesson it taught me was that, we cannot fight destiny.
We do not know what is going to happen in the next hour, even. We only have an
illusion of control. All we have is this moment—the here and now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;">While we don’t have control over the terrible things that
might<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>happen to us, we do have a choice
in how we respond to it. We can use our grief as stepping stones, as agents of
growth, and we can transform ourselves into the best versions that we can be.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;">My father’s death made me write every single day, and the
final outcome of those consistent actions that I took, resulted in my first
book. Thereafter, I put in the work needed and wrote 14 more books.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Mali;">The advice I’d have given myself was ‘The best is yet to
come’ and I wouldn’t have believed it! Yet, here I am living my dream, for
which I am filled with gratitude.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Handlee;"><br /></span><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> More tomorrow.<br />Today, I've had a very long day and I am exhausted.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Tell me in comments whether you beleive in Fate/Destiny or whether you think all that is just man-made perceptions.<br /></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-64392613405034070122023-06-11T20:19:00.005+05:302023-06-11T21:12:55.539+05:30Sunday Stealing--On whether I prefer digital books or paperbacks and more fun stuff.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzqy5vt95j-9RnqkSWXipe8j4gXUa-cDiQ5w5S1h9iDYzqiVFvUplFNeJ3otXuDv47ekw854S0kFZl6_-GU8JfNYYtpK-BH6mz_JRQTuVdRu7Fbzk6vpV2ljEXX1_lrXpVpkr-l0QKVaqmkDb4rLhvkVS-KSgj08Gi19LZYywZsHznxeCMoDc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzqy5vt95j-9RnqkSWXipe8j4gXUa-cDiQ5w5S1h9iDYzqiVFvUplFNeJ3otXuDv47ekw854S0kFZl6_-GU8JfNYYtpK-BH6mz_JRQTuVdRu7Fbzk6vpV2ljEXX1_lrXpVpkr-l0QKVaqmkDb4rLhvkVS-KSgj08Gi19LZYywZsHznxeCMoDc=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr">It's Sunday again which means it is time for<a href="http://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Sunday Stealing.</a> For Leo (one of my cats) every day is Sunday and that's how she sleeps, curling up next to me.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Many of you told me that you really enjoy these casual fun questions, which tell us a lot about ourselves. So here goes:</div><div dir="ltr"> <br /><b><br />*Have you tried anything new this year?</b><br />Yes, I tried baking bread for the first time and it came out really well! I also hit a personal record in weight training in my gym. I did deadlifts (3 sets of 6 each) with 40 kgs.<br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What would you do if you don’t have wifi for a week?</b><br />I would be very uncomfortable on the first two days. Then I'd probably get used to it. I'd read and paint.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*Do you like summer, why or why not?</b><br />Not when I am in India. Indian summers are scorching. I used to enjoy summers when I was living in UK.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What’s one restaurant that you like in your city? what food do they sell?</b><br />I am not a restaurant person at all. I feel restaurants don't bother about the health aspect of food, as they are optimising for taste and to make money. Most restaurant food just makes me feel stuffed. That being said I do occasionally enjoy going to a restaurant. I don't much care for fancy five star dining. I liked the ambience at Sly Granny in Bangalore. I also like my local Udupi park and Rameshwaram Cafe. <br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*Do you prefer digital book or real paper book?</b><br />Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The biggest positive I see in my kindle is that I can read it in the dark, I can enlarge the font, I can search inside the book using X-ray, I can mail and mark quotes from the book and while travelling I can take an entire library with me. For a long time I did not read digital books. Then the CEO of a publishing house (a voracious reader himself) told me how convenient it is, and how he was reluctant initially, and how he loves it. On his advice I tried digital books and I was hooked. If you are used to reading on a phone, you quickly get used to reading a digital book.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What’s one thing that you are interested to buy, but it’s a bit expensive, so you haven’t bought yet?</b></div><div dir="ltr">I am at that point in my life, where I don't look at price tags anymore. I am grateful to be at this point, as I have worked really hard for my money! <br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What tea brands do you like?</b><br />Kanan Devan Gold for regular tea, and Organic India for herbal teas.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What’s one food that you can binge eating a lot?</b><br />Puttu and Kadala! (my all time favourite) Also Potato chips.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*Write one random thing that happened to you this month.</b><br />The awful great switcheroo which I wrote about! In case you missed it click <a href="https://blog.preetishenoy.com/2023/06/the-great-switcheroo.html">here.</a><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*How many long-term penpals do you have right now? (people who pen pal with you for more than 3 years)</b><br />One from Scotland. (but he is a friend as I have met him in real life)<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*If you own a small food trailer, what food do you want to sell?</b><br />Idlis! Healthy, fresh, delicious with a fiery chutney.<br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What’s one handmade gift that you received and really liked ?</b><br />Someone from Sao Paulo read my book and was so moved that she knitted and hat and scarf for me. Her son had given the book to her. This person is an elderly lady and the scarf and hat are so beautiful and it's made from the softest wool. I cherish it forever. Also an artist friend from UK, gifted me a painting which tool him 140 hours to make. It hangs on my desk and only two people in the world have an original painting by him and I am one of them. I also absolutely cherish the large charts and cards my daughter made for me on my birthdays when she was younger.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What’s your ideal Saturday like?</b><br />Binge watching a lovely TV series, some wine and pop-corn, a cat in my lap and good (cold) weather outside.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What things do you like to buy on Etsy?</b><br />I don't shop on Etsy.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>*What kind asian food do you like?</b></div><div dir="ltr">South Indian--always. <br /></div><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">For those of you reading this post, I'd love it if you pick 2/3 questions from the above ans answer it in my comment box.<br />Tomorrow--a new post.<br />Till then take care!<br />Love<br />Preeti<br /></div></div></div>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-75052240934837130722023-06-10T20:57:00.006+05:302023-06-10T21:24:03.578+05:30Never Have I Ever--baked bread before!
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<div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-4 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"> </div><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light">Today I baked bread. There's something deeply primal and satisfying about the act of baking bread and the aroma wafting through the entire home. I am new to bread baking and I am pleased about how soft it turned out. Also the home made one is so much better than the store bought one--both in terms of taste as well as the ingredients that go into it. I shared some with my neighbour and house-help as well, and they loved it too. (They're both always bringing stuff that they cooked for me. So it was nice to be able to return the favour)</div><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><br /><br />After that I binged watched the latest season of <i> Never Have I Ever. </i>I absolutely loved it. It's brillianty written, well-shot with the right amount of drama and emotions. Totally won me over (like milllions of other people) and left me with a happy-warm feeling much like the bread I baked.<br /><br />That was my Saturday in a nutshell.<br />How was yours?<br />Tell me in comments 👇🏽<br /><br />Come back for a post tomorrow, where I will pick a few questions that people have asked on my Instagram stories, and I will blog about it. If you have any questions you want me to answer, you can either head over to my insta or ask me here in my comment box. I will answer as many as I can.<br /><br />Till tomorrow, focus on all the good things you have going for you.<br />Love<br />Preeti<br /><br /><br /></div></div></div><p> </p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-41958079178640078762023-06-09T21:37:00.002+05:302023-06-09T21:44:05.317+05:30Five question friday! (My hero, my biggest fear and more!)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf13jHjZ5XiJEE4HhA6DzOgKGaBBl69FWkhGzR1DklnkyX-1rqI-gdXxDwTllReDFjVRTjzVAANefS6fODWWL8szZ2bqaDrmqQIbszO_5ct7wUTJFl8vNRv-tr-BwXgJJL08o24n_7LqAS0aytb39qL-fEWBPEsGjc1toN7WWHlyB8GCFG8O4/s4912/leo-4fyektEqHeQ-unsplash(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4912" data-original-width="3264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf13jHjZ5XiJEE4HhA6DzOgKGaBBl69FWkhGzR1DklnkyX-1rqI-gdXxDwTllReDFjVRTjzVAANefS6fODWWL8szZ2bqaDrmqQIbszO_5ct7wUTJFl8vNRv-tr-BwXgJJL08o24n_7LqAS0aytb39qL-fEWBPEsGjc1toN7WWHlyB8GCFG8O4/w426-h640/leo-4fyektEqHeQ-unsplash(1).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo of Norwich Street by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@leopichler?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Leo</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/4fyektEqHeQ?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
<p></p><p> Today's friday--and for today's post I though we could have some friday fun. Here are five questions for the five question friday.</p><p></p><ol><li><span class="main">Who is your hero?</span></li><li><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;">If you could live anywhere, where would it be?</span></span></li><li><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;">What is your biggest fear?</span></span></li><li><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;">What is your favorite family vacation?</span></span></li><li><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;">What would you change about yourself if you could ?</span></span></li></ol><p><br /><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;">I would love it if you answer these in my comment box, and I'd love to get to know you!<br /><br />I am sharing my answers too!</span></span></p><p><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;"> </span></span></p><p><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;">1. Who is your hero?</span></span></p><p><span class="main"><span style="invalidstyle: 15pt;">Ans: Undoubtedly my father. He was truly one of the coolest people I jhave known. I owe a lot of my traits to him. I have written about him a lot in my book Love A Little Stronger. You can also<a href="https://blog.preetishenoy.com/2010/09/tribute-to-one-of-coolest-people-i-have.html" target="_blank"> read this post</a> to know what he was like. </span></span><br /></p><p>2. If you could live anywhere where would it be?<br /><br />Ans: If you had asked me this question in my thirties, my answer would have been Norwich,UK (as I used to live there) .But now my answer is in Bangalore, in my current home. We are truly living in our dream home now, and I am absolutely in love with my current house, and I feel blessed to own it.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. What is your biggest fear?</p><p>And: After having researched and written Life is What you Make it, I'd say it is terrifying to have a mental illness, My biggest fear is to be trapped in one's own mind.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRBbEk9Tsilc1Tc8IqPsqhHQzfvi1R0cuQ_9orpCeeHUQZRA5_GyFlIUnuSXPVlVvMvZ9AUPeQhi975ogu2UpCDELn6cdtua8WvzZqTuT2xv7m5vtU-IgkgS2aAMv76znUz2GArkBxEyC37tUNru22VTk7Wj53qzfiMpwsD2FvvfUOo9rCo0/s1104/Screenshot%202023-06-08%20at%209.53.00%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="724" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRBbEk9Tsilc1Tc8IqPsqhHQzfvi1R0cuQ_9orpCeeHUQZRA5_GyFlIUnuSXPVlVvMvZ9AUPeQhi975ogu2UpCDELn6cdtua8WvzZqTuT2xv7m5vtU-IgkgS2aAMv76znUz2GArkBxEyC37tUNru22VTk7Wj53qzfiMpwsD2FvvfUOo9rCo0/w420-h640/Screenshot%202023-06-08%20at%209.53.00%20PM.png" width="420" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p>4. What is your favourite family vacation?<br /></p><p>It was Maldives,Switzerland and Bhutan. It's hard to choose. <br />Here's a pic from Maldives which is one of my favourite pictures from the vacation.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkBwsAo420sVPKYwdzyJPD3Kh-sH_nXNGlcNnP3_PYv0Kj8HVZkfjnYBSHYKFdiH7kQpmTwx6Ilng-BqZhScAFjueEgDYb8dhCEvbHjuLosQ68qbcX3a7hVRSjjz8DDZiw_6gL4YKDhdA-xZ1esqnnJSoSR-Mp7TwBXF4lECDcO5AkFsaZd4/s1332/Screenshot%202023-06-09%20at%209.10.55%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1332" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkBwsAo420sVPKYwdzyJPD3Kh-sH_nXNGlcNnP3_PYv0Kj8HVZkfjnYBSHYKFdiH7kQpmTwx6Ilng-BqZhScAFjueEgDYb8dhCEvbHjuLosQ68qbcX3a7hVRSjjz8DDZiw_6gL4YKDhdA-xZ1esqnnJSoSR-Mp7TwBXF4lECDcO5AkFsaZd4/w640-h396/Screenshot%202023-06-09%20at%209.10.55%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>5. What would you change about yourself if you could?</p><p>My biggest vulnerability (I am an empath) is also my greatest strength. I feel very deeply and easily absorb energies. But over the years I have learnt to shield myself from absorbing other's negative energies.So right now I wouldn't change anything about myself, because being who I am enables me to write the kind of books that I do.<br /><br />Your turn now. Go! (Head over to my blog if you are reading this in your inbox)<br /><br />If you are answering these on your blog, do link back to this post.<br /></p><p>Come back tomorrow for a new post.<br />Love<br />Preeti<br /><br /><br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-77107194661295897612023-06-08T21:39:00.003+05:302023-06-09T06:47:06.827+05:30The Great Switcheroo !<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWatCNI5ZWgDnmL1rS2AtfwVYK_YumdPjCG7lNmNs7ATgi1BiDAZ0S30baJ0YxHTbnosfrjK4XLJZIN8DctZaSDFjFeg1_rqEpjpflaO-5J_nUrf8UDlIgCM0ygda8trfMMBHAvzMkp86SAinSrJnKMdOuB1JsRBUci-xhmMvQ3HmfmYM2T6o/s2081/IMG_A3A41CFB5516-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2081" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWatCNI5ZWgDnmL1rS2AtfwVYK_YumdPjCG7lNmNs7ATgi1BiDAZ0S30baJ0YxHTbnosfrjK4XLJZIN8DctZaSDFjFeg1_rqEpjpflaO-5J_nUrf8UDlIgCM0ygda8trfMMBHAvzMkp86SAinSrJnKMdOuB1JsRBUci-xhmMvQ3HmfmYM2T6o/w360-h640/IMG_A3A41CFB5516-1.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello there<br /><span style="font-size: small;">How are you doing? Are you happy that the weekend is almost here? Or do you love your job so much that you detest weekends?<br /></span></span></p><div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-4 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Today, I had a fabulous workout at the gym. I had discovered weight training just before the lock-down began and started training intensely. It was hard at first, but now I am quite proud of what I've managed to achieve in the gym. The benefits of pumping iron are immense, especially as you age. (I will be 52 this year). Your muscle mass declines each year, and the only antidote is strength training.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I usually never do cardio at the gym, instead I walk outside. But today </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">after an exhilarating workout session, I decided to add a dash of cardio as my morning walk had been short. Of the five treadmills available, three were occupied. In a stroke of ironic (or perhaps I should say moronic) luck, I had to choose the one next to a guy who was walking with a great deal of intensity, lost in his music, his headphones firmly in place. No worries, I thought, as I approached my chosen treadmill.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">But then I remembered that this gym had a peculiar system. The power switches for the treadmills were inconveniently placed behind the machines on the wall at floor level. Moreover, the switches were probably fitted by am electrician who was drunk or high on weed, or both. The person who'd fixed it had managed to flip the switches in such a way that the off-position was, in fact, the on-position, and vice versa.But that was not the case for all switches. It was a Russian roulette. You never know what you were getting. There was also a chaotic labyrinth of wires back there each one leading to a different treadmill. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Undeterred by this electrifying challenge, I stood behind the treadmills, adopting the guise of an astute detective. I scrutinized the tangled mess of wires, determined to unravel its secrets. Minutes ticked by as I carefully traced each wire, playing a suspenseful game of connect-the-dots. Finally, with the confidence of a mastermind, I identified the correct wire for my treadmill.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">With bated breath, I flicked the switch, anticipating the triumphant hum of my treadmill springing to life. Instead, what followed was a jolting moment of panic and dismay. The treadmill of the poor gentleman who had been diligently walking came to an abrupt halt, as if taunting my overzealous efforts. It took me as well as the man on the treadmill a few seconds to recover. Horror washed over me, blending with embarrassment and I drowned in the cocktail of awkwardness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Summoning every ounce of remorse, I launched into a frantic chorus of apologies. I begged for forgiveness as if my gym life depended on it. The guy, bless his soul, graciously stepped off the treadmill and kindly rectified my blunder by switching on the correct power switch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">'Sorry--I am so sorry...sorry,' I said.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">'It's okay,' he smiled sweetly. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I wished I could disappear. It could have been so dangerous had he fallen off. I apologised once again. Though I wanted to run away, I got on to my treadmill and continued my walk of shame, both literally and metaphorically.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I persisted and completed my cardio, trying to be inconspicuous amidst the echoes of my failed electrical expertise. Perhaps, in this tale of unintentional mischief, lies a valuable lesson: that even in the midst of embarrassing mishaps, we can find the courage to keep walking, both figuratively and literally, towards the next great adventure life brings us!<br /><br />More tomorrow.<br />Come back, and also leave me a comment in my comment box if you enjoyed reading this unintended escapade.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Love<br />Preeti</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">ps: The great switcheroo is one of my favourite stories by Roald Dahl (whose work I greatly admire)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">pps: If you enjoyed the above do buy my book <a href="http://preeti.io/lals" target="_blank">Love a Little Stronger </a>which are all true incidents like this one from life. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJgqBxf5Z4ODaB6ph_rrLCyP0EOYE5SpJ3PdnyjrbaxuTF8cLtTfpuxYkPLx11chz6LIHgpf1xiASP78uRDlQZKMY9N-h_-xwrt1uk0bf_kejz8HmNaFN8Nq0A0EtjOICtRnFpCfZhsf_g_dy6KyTREI5vQyw8plkQPH0rpD8ThOJ9AagPao/s1500/Llasmockupsimple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJgqBxf5Z4ODaB6ph_rrLCyP0EOYE5SpJ3PdnyjrbaxuTF8cLtTfpuxYkPLx11chz6LIHgpf1xiASP78uRDlQZKMY9N-h_-xwrt1uk0bf_kejz8HmNaFN8Nq0A0EtjOICtRnFpCfZhsf_g_dy6KyTREI5vQyw8plkQPH0rpD8ThOJ9AagPao/w452-h346/Llasmockupsimple.png" width="452" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p></div></div></div>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-41754283884354769432023-06-07T20:28:00.000+05:302023-06-07T20:28:01.238+05:30Wordless Wednesday .A recent event .<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhbQ0jLp2rG0muDr-FNz7sBHquqlnVZuWwkYLqVoorvEq4TfESR5hGiAP5uGGi4SYx1NEGdyEqGGJIogHGf6nkAuL_N8cUyuJpDEXiO4SExN9GVr7MwQElxUZqDeA34EtmTEPYSVpMR0DynBNNqhd684MzujJ4CBm3u4Y7oWBslPgxWAOGdw/s1166/6080E396-45AC-4ED5-B56E-FE9EA7699598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1166" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhbQ0jLp2rG0muDr-FNz7sBHquqlnVZuWwkYLqVoorvEq4TfESR5hGiAP5uGGi4SYx1NEGdyEqGGJIogHGf6nkAuL_N8cUyuJpDEXiO4SExN9GVr7MwQElxUZqDeA34EtmTEPYSVpMR0DynBNNqhd684MzujJ4CBm3u4Y7oWBslPgxWAOGdw/w640-h480/6080E396-45AC-4ED5-B56E-FE9EA7699598.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGeK8xg4Z9AWKrw7IY-971jJQ16zYetlz15Z5C_MbfZz4ze8KAJOhzCmaj-vg8X0cq8Le29_FTu2uI17ahlu5z7QszWpxFd-UBpaZRmPqGc0oNdZMqv25k7al-1Au8c38jRK4glDS_6172h7wOE0xWzNAn2CgVdQvgp5U4ra-2A28n-j2gCs/s1024/2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGeK8xg4Z9AWKrw7IY-971jJQ16zYetlz15Z5C_MbfZz4ze8KAJOhzCmaj-vg8X0cq8Le29_FTu2uI17ahlu5z7QszWpxFd-UBpaZRmPqGc0oNdZMqv25k7al-1Au8c38jRK4glDS_6172h7wOE0xWzNAn2CgVdQvgp5U4ra-2A28n-j2gCs/w640-h480/2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />Today is <a href="http://wordlesswednesday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">wordless wednesday.</a> (click on the link to know more)<br /></p><p>I've been doing Wordless Wednesdays for many years now. And for today's post, I thought I'd share pics from last public event, which I absolutely loved.<br />I feel blessed to be living my dream life. (But I have worked and struggled for it)<br />Shhhhh..I have spoken too much already. This is supposed to be wordless!<br /><br />Come back tomorrow for a new post (and lots of words!)<br />Love<br />Preeti<br /></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418670.post-51376141053924892832023-06-06T20:40:00.003+05:302023-06-06T20:40:15.070+05:30Meet my tribe. Meet my babies.<p>It's raining heavily outside as I type this. Water is pouring down like silver spears, pelting the earth with fury like <span>Daenerys's Unsullied troops. (Apologies if you aren't a Game of Thrones Fan. I highly recommend you watch the series if you haven't.)</span></p><p><span>My three cats are safe inside. They are semi-outdoor cats and one of my concerns when it pours like this is whether they are safe. </span></p><p>Leo is on my chair grooming herself, Harvey is walking around trying to figure out what mischief she can get upto next and Kasper is patrolling around trying to smack Harvey. All three cats are girls--but they have boys names because I didn't know they were girls when I was naming them!<br /><br />Kasper is mute. She can't mew properly. But she is fierce and fast. She is also extremely affectionate once you win her over. When the AC is switched on and she wants to come inside, she knows how to knock on my window till I hear her, and let her in! One of her favourite activities is chasing Harvey around.</p><p> Here's Kasper with my daughter Purvi. (This pic was clicked when when she was in India). Kasper is easily Purvi's favourite. Kasper dislikes strangers and will run away if there's any new person in the house.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFFGK3Gj0bEMWovTtkxZ4u7qWjQp6ClIxpuaL4qEy44ivvg_7FqhopfbMrtRTDA1VatAY2qaicXDU_YPgbCv1ho6nN3RnBVmEFU6memulyHhk4qiy4PCxmbV3CNfWwyS3hEP8zwnflbcLiYbydpw12M2EGHrCy4F5S4OOEsnrx_SQqyZcXZ_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3228" data-original-width="2424" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFFGK3Gj0bEMWovTtkxZ4u7qWjQp6ClIxpuaL4qEy44ivvg_7FqhopfbMrtRTDA1VatAY2qaicXDU_YPgbCv1ho6nN3RnBVmEFU6memulyHhk4qiy4PCxmbV3CNfWwyS3hEP8zwnflbcLiYbydpw12M2EGHrCy4F5S4OOEsnrx_SQqyZcXZ_g=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /> </p><p>Leo is a very affectionate ginger cat. Female ginger cats are very rare because of genetics. Only 20% of the Ginger cats are female as they need a specific chromosome in a particular order for their colouring. Leo is easily my favourite. Leo is also very wary of strangers. She however loves to cuddle up to me. When I watch TV, she jumps on to my lap and rests there. There are millions of pictures of Leo and me :)</p><p>But I am sharing with you, two of my favourite pics of Leo.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxGwu8OTSXH0mJQuAWZMVd6KA67oEuQwv7r-L6ihsL-cgiWjfv9zyDE87uMVlBJ3cuDnUGTodqQMWWeXN2xd3D8Is3xxIXE_v4GkL0tKzj7uayTFrxFvlBuB-k29miDLYfJScoJ288Ni_BEDBdyiRtQMAy_hluV812hjZ7NjgvHhsnG8LI6Ao" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxGwu8OTSXH0mJQuAWZMVd6KA67oEuQwv7r-L6ihsL-cgiWjfv9zyDE87uMVlBJ3cuDnUGTodqQMWWeXN2xd3D8Is3xxIXE_v4GkL0tKzj7uayTFrxFvlBuB-k29miDLYfJScoJ288Ni_BEDBdyiRtQMAy_hluV812hjZ7NjgvHhsnG8LI6Ao=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc8YkxQEjla9wLRgxXeKemKqNbW6uVqcF5zwAAqeFNsKe7ro9N0-ka9Aes4v1XqpcC-RFAF9DpI_9axfdlqb0x7APkOZzmIahelEnh8yDPk8fWCw_J-bsTsMCRafryaM1wn-4Wf_rAG8N8qjs9czuOKIi3CHKU2f-cJ6EcDyYGqBnEwvwLe5I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc8YkxQEjla9wLRgxXeKemKqNbW6uVqcF5zwAAqeFNsKe7ro9N0-ka9Aes4v1XqpcC-RFAF9DpI_9axfdlqb0x7APkOZzmIahelEnh8yDPk8fWCw_J-bsTsMCRafryaM1wn-4Wf_rAG8N8qjs9czuOKIi3CHKU2f-cJ6EcDyYGqBnEwvwLe5I=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br />Then there's Harvey who is a<a href="https://catinaflat.co.uk/blog/fun-facts-about-calico-cats" target="_blank"> calico. </a> (Calico cats are considered to being luck to their owners) She is an extremely good looking cat and she has a dot on her nose! She was abandoned on my door step when she was a baby. I tried to get her adopted but I wasn't sure she would get a good home, and then we all fell in love with her. She is extremely naughty and one of the things she does is push books off the book shelves and then pretend she hasn't done anything. Harvey is my son's favorite cat. Harvey is very friendly and she will gladly welcome strangers and play with them. She is also unpredictable as she can suddenly scratch you or bite your toes when she gets annoyed. <br />(Leo and Kasper won't ever scratch you or bite you)<br /><p></p><p>Here's a pic of Harvey at her favourite spot (Righton top of my book shelf)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfeBXaVhbfW4f49vbW0adp12U--xvKjSfUgBavkkPxB0pVvdtMtv0OgJV0h2C2KSLeV76f5HbSdqhBndJmd6HdBvmkpw7bkxxTNF_8zXcur-1aAbGUl9hp0OeMYrpafdZyPYtt9qA70FCnjNDzp-MulOIEk0XRY_iHYijtm8eLGU062J7b5rs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfeBXaVhbfW4f49vbW0adp12U--xvKjSfUgBavkkPxB0pVvdtMtv0OgJV0h2C2KSLeV76f5HbSdqhBndJmd6HdBvmkpw7bkxxTNF_8zXcur-1aAbGUl9hp0OeMYrpafdZyPYtt9qA70FCnjNDzp-MulOIEk0XRY_iHYijtm8eLGU062J7b5rs=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhADTGYr5Zy0gpgR709KuFBj7d-2frwJaJ3g3sscBAXv3BaTun1jdVYv1x-SuWweEasX8JrbWn-uhZbytlK18cVYQtLIibDDkL524L4tP0fE578J0pXtkYqOGrT_q00PTKIhqJzubN7r9Xp5o4i2MUsn45-bWkVa2blxhRlCTuNQe51CR4_fDc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3299" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhADTGYr5Zy0gpgR709KuFBj7d-2frwJaJ3g3sscBAXv3BaTun1jdVYv1x-SuWweEasX8JrbWn-uhZbytlK18cVYQtLIibDDkL524L4tP0fE578J0pXtkYqOGrT_q00PTKIhqJzubN7r9Xp5o4i2MUsn45-bWkVa2blxhRlCTuNQe51CR4_fDc=w368-h400" width="368" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span>Apart from. these three, I also have rotating visitor cats. I feed them all. (i love animals and will do anything for them)<br /></span></p><p><span>I was never a cat-lover. I was always a dog person. My dog (Lostris, named after a Wilbur </span><span>Smith Character) was my third child. She was inseparable from me. She lived a long and a happy life, and she passed two years back. (I was so heartbroken I couldn't speak for months)<br /></span></p><p><span> </span><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl8uoSqzy2XTJtgPSNsma_qOMDMveyylHWBKE8FgPp8E8gW-Q93enqFg3751-6p3-o7pDHSZ0Ds3mHjcEL7JcR2RdNa8G7CBOC3NH8eAhDasWYMRjV7JEMATlP5OifJ9zfbVXKeZuL9iYamXUrAJlogUTa12m6st5qgHKPO_nc-6egy840wJ0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="605" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl8uoSqzy2XTJtgPSNsma_qOMDMveyylHWBKE8FgPp8E8gW-Q93enqFg3751-6p3-o7pDHSZ0Ds3mHjcEL7JcR2RdNa8G7CBOC3NH8eAhDasWYMRjV7JEMATlP5OifJ9zfbVXKeZuL9iYamXUrAJlogUTa12m6st5qgHKPO_nc-6egy840wJ0=w379-h640" width="379" /></a></div><br /> She is mentioned in the acknowledgement pages of many of my books. <p></p><p><span>The day she passed (two years ago) a pregnant cat came home.Leo and Kasper are her babies. I truly feel my Lossie had so much love left to give me that she had to reincarnate as two cats. Her love couldn't be contained in just one. Kasper and Leo come with me everywhere, just like Lossie used to,</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><span>The circle of love, like life goes on.</span></p><p><span>Come back tomorrow for a new post. And don't forget to leave me a comment if you're enjoying my posts.<br />___________________________</span></p><p><span>ps: If you enjoyed this post you will love my book<a href="http://preeti.io/lals" target="_blank"> Love A Little Stronger</a> which are all true incidents from my life.</span></p><p><span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7e1y71Skds1pYog8W-yQSj1XBgKktVyRbeHkv_fA3kcWlhUVkdcdMKAxj3n9KwVgNVplKKyEzGiucznLKQdmj1ZpL9As6uPq-vW1w0uDxHl4fnawWVsSMvQ-mRMqK_qT7g9lQLZfjC2gRBxLmdqKqeyNTogdFq3SKlI1A-DNybw6ABvisFQ/s1500/Llasmockupsimple.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7e1y71Skds1pYog8W-yQSj1XBgKktVyRbeHkv_fA3kcWlhUVkdcdMKAxj3n9KwVgNVplKKyEzGiucznLKQdmj1ZpL9As6uPq-vW1w0uDxHl4fnawWVsSMvQ-mRMqK_qT7g9lQLZfjC2gRBxLmdqKqeyNTogdFq3SKlI1A-DNybw6ABvisFQ/w497-h381/Llasmockupsimple.png" width="497" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><span><br /></span></p>Preeti Shenoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626823872300694608noreply@blogger.com12