My Hair Smells Like the Piccadilly Line

Have been commuting by the London tube for about 7 years now, and "rush hour" is the worst. The London tube runs from East to West and North to South, it is what keeps London moving and functions as an artery of the city. It also makes you impatient and irritable. Besides making your clothes and hair smell, as you inviting pressed against the millions of other commuters.

"Rush hour" is when everyone is trying to get to work for the auspicious time of 9.00 am, and you really need to get on that tube. So out of the way suckers!!! One of the tube lines in London is called the Piccadilly line and runs from the north to the south. It has quite an interesting run actually from a suburb called " Cockfosters"( yes I know it does exist) to Heathrow Terminals 1,2 3 and sometimes 4 and 5.It looks pretty much like the picture below. Smelly armpits, stale breath, someones snack in you hair, and it gets worse.





During the winter its the smelly coats, and the fact that the hygiene standard falls i.e. The thought is why should I have a shower or wake up slightly early to have, what a shower? Have you seen how dark it out there, even the sun is not up. Love it when someone takes action ( see image below) and makes people aware " You Mr, yes you... You stink"





Back to my hair, so there is a particular smell, that my hair has mid week. And I wondered for a long time, what is this, strange!! After much investigation the conclusion that I have come to is it is the Piccadilly line.
Hence the title " My Hair Smells Like the Piccadilly Line"

Reasons why I love Christmas in London

There is something in the air when Christmas is near. You can feel it all around you. The decorative lights in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Convent Garden come on, all the big brands compete to put on a show.
Mulled wine is back Yes!!love it.  The smell of roasted chestnuts. The Christmas markets. The cold that you feel on your nose. Santa , who can forget him. The best part is the Christmas tree in Trafalgar square and the singing of the Christmas carols. And of course the continuing bets on if it will be a white christmas.

Everyone has a spring in their steps and for once Londoners are not complaining about the weather or the travel !!! And just like Christmas that happens only once a year !!!

Saving Mr Banks; A story to watch

For many years now I have been a fan of Mary Poppins.

So " Saving Mr Banks" was a film I really wanted to see. Starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and based in 1964 Hollywood. It is a great movie  for anyone who has been a fan of Mary Poppins, the nanny with powers, and a brocade bag.This blog is not a review on the film it is just a commentary on the fact that all our experiences make us who we are. And we all need be a delusional sometimes to face our reality. So was P.L. Travers delusional? And did Walt Disney, the man who made the world laugh by creating the most famous mouse in the world " Mickey Mouse" understand that and get P.L.Travers to share Mary Poppins with the world.
These are questions which need thought and frankly I don't think there is right answer. But I have to say even if you are not a "Mary Poppins" fan and have never read a book, it does not matter the movie" Saving Mr Banks" is about human interaction, life and how experiences in our childhood live in the deep recess of our mind and they surface when we have trigger them unwittingly.

Watch the trailer for " Saving Mr Banks"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujxpk2IdDmM 







The original movie was made before my time, but I remember watching it many years later and thought yes this imagination.
 " Mary Poppins" was a movie made by Walt Disney in 1964. A great feel good movie. Its worth a peek. It will make you smile
If you have never seen it click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3zAbQ0aMK8

Perils of travelling in London

Today was a great day. Read a fantastic book one of my favourites by Brian Weiss " Many Soul Many Bodies". Attended a course on Agile; and was told to roll Agile out across my organisation.

So in my mental state of blissfulness, I boarded a train to go to Hatfield (well its a satellite town of London). This was for a romantic meal with the Mr. Now must say I was walking on sunshine yes , though its winter cold and dark.


Anyway after passing many small villages Read: Hadley Wood, I thought let me do a Google to see if my London zone 1 to 6 travel card will do for the travel. I know, I know a bit late in the day but hey who is perfect. Finally after painful trawling the intermittent internet Trip Advisor, I repeat Trip Advisor finally gave me the information that yes I did need a ticket and it will cost me £4 to top up my current travel card.I thought they must have an oyster card reader at the Hatfield. Seriously they must have oyster everyone does.

Sadly to my dismay I arrived at Hatfield , NO OYSTER CARD READER OMG only tickets and a very rude First Capital Connect member of staff. He looked at me and said " this is not a valid ticket." I said " Yup, I know your website does not have details, So I have just found out."

He said " Well you cannot travel with out a ticket!" I was getting angry I said " I have not travelled without a ticket I have a ticket it is was till zone 5. Can I pay the difference."  " No"  he said "pay the fine." I was being treated as a criminal and was not enjoying it. I will pay I thought but I will get you. I said " here" paying him the money (£20 for a small mistake as there was no information) so angry. And I want to appeal He said " Oh you can Google that" At this point I did loose the plot " What is the point of this piece of paper if it does not have appeal details."

Lessons for the customer service staff of First Capital Connect, get a crash course in etiquette and manners or you will see a mob of angry commuters

Sisters & Friends

Today is my sister's birthday; she would have been a year older and many years wiser. She was my older sister; I say was as she passed away about 17 years ago. There was a void that she left behind as she was also my friend.

Sisters can be best friends, and we were. Today looking back at the years we spent together, there are so many moments with sunshine and laughter. Bicycle rides to school, then to friends houses, the annoyed face of my sister when being told by my mum " take her (pointing at me) with you." When I moved away from home to do my post graduation and then continue working in another city, she was my constant source of reassurance and reality. 

Always there to support me and a shoulder to cry on the perils of living away from home on a budget and trying to constantly make ends meet. In her short life she touched many lives and is still remembered, sometimes it is true that the best ones have a really short time on this planet. They walk amongst us as memories, every time I see a resident doctor at a hospital at any part of the world she is the 1^st thing that comes to mind.

Every night looking at the sky I think, oh thereshe is watching everything.  Dr Yasmin Thakur-Dave, what a pleasure it was to be a part of your existence.

You will always be in our thoughts.

The day I met Gulab

The day I met Gulab

Anyone who living in London, and either having Indian roots or then is Indian ( South Asian) would know Wembley and Ealing road. That’s the road you get saris, costume jewellery, and guess what cooking utensils.

So in my quest for buying a readymade blouse for the sari's I had been given as gifts, I found myself wandering down Ealing road. Post asking questions and various people pointing in various directions, I found a small shop with an even smaller shop front. 

The owner/ primary sales person who was at the counter was helpful: lo behold there were dozens and dozens of ready mad blouses. Finally matching the right blouse to the right sari, I need to try these on for any ale rations (yes the do that free of charge).I was asked to try this in a changing room; read: a cubical with a sewing machine, and just a peg, there was a curtain which you needed to draw.

That's when I met Gulab, she was sent to assist me. So I introduced myself and she introduced herself, helped me, and then asked where I worked. I said Leicester Sqaure central London, she said "huh” - So I said “Central London" she looked at me and shrugged and said “Huh" yet again. Then she said are you working today and I said I work only Monday to Friday and she looked at me “that’s good" she said. 

When I took my goods feeling triumphant that I managed to do all this in less than 2 hours and did not have to pay another £6 for 2 hrs of parking; Gulab made an appearance in my thoughts. How did she not know where central London was, how long was she here, is that what she did all day long, man the stall outside the shop, did she seem happy? And then thought switched to she must be, what you don't know you will not miss, is that not wait people say?

I will always remember that brief conversation in the most unlikely of places, and will always remember her.

For Gulab though I am sure I was an blip in her ordinary day and an amusement for a short while. Funny isn't it, I am sure I was the only customer who asked her name...

Neighbours and Friends

Neighbours and Friends 

It was many years ago when I was still studying; I meet a fiery Leo with tremendous spirit. She had guts and was willing to speak her mind; she still is the same person she was that many years ago. 

Anupama Mandloi one of the strongest people I know. We started out as room-mates and ended up as neighbours, we spent ages watching movies, going for a walk or just talking.

Now million miles away I miss the gesture of making that call and asking the question “so do you want to hang out?" Such a simple question but one that you can only ask when you have certain amount of comfort level within the relationship. 

There are very few relationships that last the test of time and people do sometimes come and go in your life as grand central station. But there are some that want to be there and the whole relationship is effortless.

Anu, have been there for so many of your Birthday celebrations and I missing being there once I have moved away. Wish you all the love, happiness and health for the next year. 

Keeping smiling; wish you everything you wanted in life... Thanks for being there.