Empty spaces...

...are meant for scribbling :D
Hence, we meet again.
Skeety has found a new shack where she has her evening tea these days. The tea is reasonably good, and is customised for Skeety (green cardamom instead of the ususal ginger, less sugar and so on). But what really attracts Skeets to this shack is a gulmohar tree that so generously parts with its red flower petals and lets them grace the earth below. These petals are what makes the tea time even memorable.
Armed with one of her most cherished gadgets, the camera phone, Skeety walks towards the shack (or the tree?), slides down the cover that safeguards the carl zeiss lens, switches to the close-up mode and clicks the red beauties, while the tea vendor makes the tea.
And yeah Skeety suspects that the tea wala thinks she is mad sitting down in the middle of the road, looking at one petal from different angles before clicking. Perhaps that is why he speaks very nicely to her and makes her tea super fast (ofcourse kidding)... Skeety being the nice, benevolent girl has forgiven the tea wala as he knows not the love for those bewitching beauties..
Here are few of the shots from two different walks to the same place:




Adios till we meet again :-)

Caught Candid with the Camera

and not by the Camera :P
Skeets holds a sort of a record for being the most silent person...in the house..among friends...in office and everywhere else (except on gtalk).
An insane number of thoughts do swim in the mind but are shared with a selected few.
It is her own quietness that often misleads Skeety to think she is wearing an invisible cloak while she is clicking around town and won't ever be seen.
Time and again she has been proved wrong. Here's how:
*Discovered lying flat on the floor in the corridor of the house experimenting with light, olives, thermocol...
*Spotted squatting near India gate while clicking these pretty things (pic below). The strangers who spotted Skeety giggled. Perhaps they thought she was either insane or plucking flowers or digging bugs from the mud, but their expressions went even funnier when they saw the Camera in Skeety's hands. *Who cares* The love for the Camera transcends all else...

Golgappas can make for Skeeter's breakfast, lunch, evening snack and even dinner. Nothing wrong about that. Till the day she was caught standing on a cane stool (so as to get the black granite shelf in the backdrop) tripod stationed ahead of her...clicking them before digging in.
Ma enters the kitchen and wide-mouthedly stares, laughs and goes off to tell others what she saw. Grrrrr. And Skeets thought the folks were watching TV and she's be done clicking before anyone comes in. *Invi cloak... where art thou?*
Then comes the compulsive obssession to click while the car moves or when it is stuck in jams. While Skeety was clicking the autorickshaw's number plate reading "DL" (the sign that makes Skeety feel happy on roads, the sign which makes her thankful to be living in her beloved city) she notices a man on a two-wheeler who gave Skeety a 'get-a-life dudette' look...
Skeety grinned at the man on the two-wheeler so that he gets to read her mind... THIS IS MY LIFE DUDE :D My Cam... :-) Kat le ab

T-ea and words bind the world...

Activity has seen a slump following the footsteps of recession...
Brush, bathe drink, eat, work, surf, eat, drink sleep and again...
This mantra is being chanted in the strictest meaning of the word 'rhythm' everyday...
The cycle was broken this morning as Skeets sat down to read blogs with sips from a cup of Elaichi T-ea held between her palms...
There had been a slump in blogsville as well or so Skeets thinks...
Today it was noticed that most blogs on the blogroll are brimming with activity again...
There are friends who like to share about daily happenings in their lives and those around, about life as they see it, about cribs, about happiness, about their travails...
The one thing that is common in all blogs is words...
It took Skeeter those words from ALL of YOUR blogs to write here...
Skeeter is happiest when she scribbles...
She is also a very happy girl when she sips T-ea...
If beverages could be called enticing, T-ea would top the list...
Delhi is burning, what with the mercury crossing the dreaded 40-degrees mark...
It also means even less of the solo sojourns on foot to the places in Delhi where Skeeter finds her peace...
Those walks around the Kuchas and Gallis of Chandni Chowk are missed...
Those conversations with random Delhiites selling street food on how they make the stuff they sell are being fondly remembered...
Skeeter will not let the heat tie her down...
She MUST start visiting her beloved places again..SOON!
Also, Skeeter would like to introduce you to 30on30.net, an initiative by a friend who is trying to make a difference to a few lives around us...Skeeter had been meaning to put this link up here since long...But then it is never too late...
cheers!

Those things they do!

Aloha!!!

Awfully long breaks Skeeter takes at times. Eh?

This time she's back with a comtemporary story.
There lives a girl who madly badly wanted to watch the Oscar winning movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

She waits for a much awaited holiday from work and goes all by herself to see the movie and purchases a ticket.

Upon purchasing the ticket, a few moments are spent in getting frisked at the movie theatre.

That done, the wait for the theatre to open its gates begins.

Nachos and cardamom tea are purchased. The girl turns around from the snacks counter to see the theatre doors open for entry and ushers in.

She seats herself on the assigned seat (passage one as she had requested), and the movie begins.

40 minutes into the movie, and her cellphone rings.

An unusual call from a usual number.

The serene mood changes into that of ghastly disbelief.

She rushes out of the theatre to talk to the person who had called.

On talking she realises that she had wrongly presumed a working day to be a holiday and would have to rush to office that very moment.

That girl, dear readers, is none other than:
Reeta Skeeter

CAUGHT laughing (red-handed)!!!

Ojas tagged Skeets, and Skeets TWISTED the tag :D
According to the original tag Skeets was to write 10 random things about the self. Skeety is writing only one.
Now, this is something not so random about the self, but has been crossing the mind for a post here: Skeets LAUGHS like there's no tomorrow when she is in front of the computer.
If we were to study in school at this age we'd perhaps be asked to write an essay on My Computer. Haha. Okay okay Skeets knows she is a two hundred and fifty eight year old, and is not supposed to attend school. But then, studies can never be complete. One learns all through life. Muggles may differ (laughs out loud wickedly).
Comes back to the POP=Point of the Post.
Well, Skeets has been caught laughing in front of the computer like N number of times by mommy dearest as well as other members of the family.
Skeets has also been declared insane. The reason being some equally insane friends who pop-up on the Instant Messenger windows with some of the whackiest lines possible.
Or perhaps, a fellow-blogger's post would make Skeets go khi khi khi:)
Ditto with the mobile phone. One funny MASS SMS as well call it from the funny bunch of friends or a message meant just for Skeets and you can find her laughing out loud in a public place for something like 300 seconds (5 minutes). And what follows ofcourse are some uncalled-for stares. Does Skeets care? Nah! Democratic is the country she lives in :) Laughter de-stresses like anything. :)
In the first open-ended post here...Skeets wants to ask all the readers a question:

Do you LAUGH when someone says something funny on Instant Messengers or SMS-es
---Or do you just chuckle
---Or do you say LOL but do not really laugh?
Shout out! And yeah keep laughing :D

The mystery of Thums Up TASTE THE THUNDER!

Crazy nights!
Eh!
Forcing Skeets to post about food at Reeta's Ruminations instead of DFZ.
No probbies.
Both are cuties.
Skeets returned home from work.
HUNGRY.
THE dinner box which couldn't be had at work was opened @ home.
Gobhi (cauliflower) paranthas (Indian bread)...
No, actually Skeets had half of the two allotted to her :P
These, hogged, standing at midnight on the kitchen shelf.
Ok Skeets was not standing.
The plate was sitting on shelf.
Skeets was standing on the floor.
Accompanying the HALF gobhi parantha were the carrot pickle and 1 Bikaneri papad or poppadum. Bikaner is a town in Rajasthan. Famous for its papads.
Thums Up was the only drink available at the ghostly hour (or so she thought).
No probbies.
Hunger ruled supreme.
We shall overcome.
When Skeets finsihed half of the half gobhi parantha she poured Thums Up in the mug (glass wasn't available either).
FROTH floated at the top of the Thums Up drink.
Wonder if they have a tie-up with Surf, Ariel washing powders?
No? Nirma perhaps?!
Scratches head.
Stops such thought from disturbing the tastebuds.
Finishes meal.
Not hungry now but sees PEPPY (round tomato flavoured chips/discs) and grabs the pack. The producers try to call peppy poppadums.
Skeets refuses to acknowledge that name.
Half a glass REAL mixed fruit juice diluted with water (Skeets loves her teeth...the less the sugar the better) follows.
This post was being written in between sips of juice and bites of Peppy.
Hunger made Skeets forget spellings.
Google rocks!
Search revealed something EXTRA!
The weird taste of Thums up (Skeets thought it was Thum"b"s Up hence googled) that must've been recollected by your taste buds when reading the name of the drink in this post (and Skeets is sure you must've said eeeeewwwwwww) does remind one a little about betel nut (supari). That describes the weird taste.!
Mystery solved.
Betel Nut + washing powder flavour= Thums Up!
Hence, the tagline= Taste the thunderrrr!!!!
Skeets doesn't mind Thums Up once in a while. Smalloo's liking for Thums Up has made Skeets' taste buds accustomed to the unusual taste. Here's the little something that wiki has to say about Thums Up:
Thums Up is a carbonated soft drink (cola) popular in India, where its bold, red thumbs up logo is common. It is similar in flavor to other colas but has a unique taste reminiscent of betel nut. Introduced in 1977 to offset the expulsion of The Coca-Cola Company and other foreign companies from India, Thums Up, Limca, and Campa Cola gained nationwide acceptance. The brand was bought out by Coca-Cola who later re-launched it to fight against Pepsi after
unsuccessful attempts at brand killing.

Ciao!
:D
Keep Smiling.
Skeets loves her blogs and shall try to be regular now on.
Tada!

There shall be light and...

a post SOON...

Updates, updates and more updates!!!
Skeets has been well...
Skeets been to Kasauli and is back to Delhi...
Skeets has a lot to share...
Skeets ain't suffering from no writer's block or whatever they call it...
Skeets is much busier than usual but does not see that as a reason not to update...
Skeets doesn't have access to the internet from home...
Skeets shall be fixing that VERY soon...
Skeets shall have this place all happy and chirpy...
Skeets misses writing here a lot...Till then...

Here's Skeety wishing a Happy Diwali, Happy Halloween and a joyous festive season to all her blog buddies :)

London through my Lens: ALL in a day

Dated June 24, 2008

She doesn't let me free,
Lest I flee
Or worse I go and drink a pan full of hot T... (T-pan..wink wink for those who know)

Ok ok this was not-so-funny.
But what was funny was that one fine day when Skeety was in London, she wanted to go about alone. And The Little One wouldn't let her go for the fear that Skeets might get lost or run into trouble.
Logic worked fine here. Skeets does run into funny situations but doesn't mean she can't take care. Infact, when she is alone, she is MORE wary of whatever is happening around her, than she is when accompanied by family or friends.
Anyway after all the catfight and more Skeets turned to be the winner and was free to go out and explore London on her own.
Bus Number 427 to Ealing and there onwards a tube to Central London (Little One are you listening? Skeety still remembers this route and all others :p )
Wasn't really a good day for Skeets mood-wise, but Skeets turned it into one of the best days she could give herself...
What Skeets likes best when she's on her own is:
*She can explore as much of the place she is in, as she wants...
*She doesn't feel bad about the other person (in this case The Little One) being tired but still having to bear with her...
*She is not answerable to anyone about any of her acts which might be deemed to be funny by others...
*Being on your own gives you a chance to explore your head like anything...pending thoughts that need pondering...pending talks with the self and so on...
*Best of all, Skeets loves her own company more than anyone else's...

Back to June 24...
Skeets' head full o' thoughts...went out in search of peace for the mind...
A three-four hour long walk through the greens and others colours of Hyde Park... a softy down... lots of questions answered by the self to the self... lots of pictures clicked of the self and all that surrounded...lovely leaves...huge trees...people enjoying a lazy afternoon...others working out...practising outdoor sports to achieve perfection...when one sees all this happening around...life sure does look beautiful...

Skeeter's next stop was St.Paul's Cathedral.
Situated in the heart of London is St.Paul's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of London city. It is said to be situated on the same site where a church by the same name stood before it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.

This dome was inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome:


Below is The Great West Door which is also the main entry to point of the Cathedral.

And last but not the least, as Skeets was returning home she was awarded a free summer show which took place just outside St.Paul's.

Phewww long post. Was long pending.
Adios till we meet again!

Ho shuru har din aise....

While away from Dilli Darling Skeets missed:
* People
* Gallis and kuchas of Old Dilli (no prizes for guessing this one, or any of these :P )

And then after THUDDING Dilli, Skeets hasn't had a chance to grace those lanes yet...
But, Skeets' love for the place is omnipresent...
While washing hands this morning, Skeets came across a bottle labelled:

Gulabsingh Johrimal,

1587, Dariba Kalan,

Delhi-110006

It was enough to bring a smile and some wonderful memories back to Skeets...
Ho shuru har din aise :)
For memories are made of these...
Have a Good Day!

The Tower Bridge Drama

Skeety's been out and about for a while now, and the time has come to share some or maybe all that was seen. So, Skeety chooses to share today the pictures of one of her favorite Victorian Gothic Style buildings, the Tower Bridge of London, which is also an engineering marvel. Skeety was lucky enough to capture the drama through her lens' eye while the bascules were closing after having allowed the river (Thames) traffic to pass by. Presenting the same:
More Information can be read HERE

Back after a hiatus...

Hola!
So Skeeter's been lying low. Eh?
Thanks Eastmancolor for your comments...They prompted me to update...
Skeety admits being partial to Delhi Foodies' Zone, hence it did get updated.
Skeets sooooo missed visiting the blogs of all her blogger friends...Tanu Blotter, Backpakker, Asha, Anita, Woody, Vanilla, and EVERYBODY!
She's been visiting a few though...
All this while, this was what was happening with Skeets:
Skeets went out and about to Kinaari Bazaar and the super squeezed lanes of Chandni Chowk to get some clicks. Skeets basically loves to get lost there. It is like a journey back in time. Simply surreal feeling. Balmy. Does a mental detox on Skeets. So much so, that when she come back to new Delhi, she feels as if she is a character from the Mughal era (some princess or the likes) who has stepped out of a history book. Try imagining that for real...hehehehe. (Drozzy, PUHLEASEEEE don't be cheeky.)

All this while, Skeety's been just running around trying to get life sorted (hehe yeah that was to avoid details :P ).
Skeety's laptop's display conked off. She's been terribly sad.
Skeets also chanced to visit the Mani Tungyur temple, which gave her a lot of peace and space from people.

Below is the Mani is carved with the Mantra Om Mani Padme Hum.It is the Mantra of Compassion, chanted by Buddhists. Om Mani Padme Hum is believed to be the mantra of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, of whom the Dalai Lama is believed to be an incarnation. Believers circumvent the Mani, chanting the mantra to themselves...

That's the story so far.

Happiness.

The Delhi Diary

So fellas, enough of boring the self as well as friends who visit Skeets here with SAD stuff...
Life is about happiness, energy, sharing, and caring.
Caring, the word reminds me of the frequent abuses I get to hear about my Darling Dilli. Have been meaning to write a post on the same ever since, and finally found some motivation:


This signboard, Skeets read whilst on way to work and was happy to see 'My Delhi' written there. Skeeter almost jumped out of the car on seeing it. Then, she took out the camera and clicked instead. ;)
To all those who hurl abuses at Dilli... Dilli being this and Dilli being that, and the others who call us Delhiites names (ruthless, rude, insensitive and what not) I would like to say: crime is everywhere and bad people are omnipresent. Rather, if all the world were to be sane, what would be the fun living THAT sorta life?
Skeets is keen on sharing one of the many good moments in Delhi with some of the kindest people she's met. On two occasions, Skeets remembers visiting the famed Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi wala in Bazaar Sitaram, old Delhi (post on Delhi Foodies' Zone is pending). When Skeets visited the place for the first time, she asked a lady to give her the directions. The lady was kind enough to not only give Skeets the directions, but make sure (by keeping a stern eye) that Skeeter reached the place she desired to go. The second time also the same got repeated. Skeets knows the narration of this incident is not enough to calm your hot heads, if you've had bad experiences. Infact, dRoZzY, a Delhi-lover and a dear friend keeps forbidding Skeets (dramatising the consequences) from venturing to Old Delhi unaccompanied. And Skeets has had a hard time explaining to him that things are not bad there in that part of Dilli. And that reminds Skeeter of a pending tag.
dRoZzY and Ankur have tagged Skeets on a rather long questionnaire. And Skeets is in no mood to do a tag for now, so she thought of writing about these two fellas (which happens to be one of the questions in the tag). Skeets shall therefore be saved from the accusation of dishonouring a tag. Here goes it:
dRoZzY...One of the bestest friends (no no I am serious). Has the distinction of making Skeets lose her calm ONLY on one occasion (we are generally in harmony). Amazing sense of humour. Can easily pose as one's dad or dadaji for that matter, if you begin listening to his advise rather seriously (*bhaago*). Lazy bum, would get out of the house on a Sat/Sun only if he has to get his car repaired, take mom-dad somewhere (he charges for the same), or has to meet a gorgeous girl :P .
Is Skeety's crib sponge (soaks it all in and never says STOP CRIBBING or probably just pretends to listen :P) and gives some wonderful and intelligent advise. Always ready to help at the beep of the phone. Thinks he is Arnie's clone. Has a little diary in which the secrets of all Delhiites can be found. By the way, he knows more than half of the Delhiites. Can strike a bond with anyone (and when I say anyone I mean it) at an ease which is unique to him (quite commendable). Is one of the few people capable of making Skeets laugh when she is down. And these are the things we have in common: We love ourselves like crazy, love food, love Delhi (he only pretends he doesn't), are born detectives, are wicked. And yeah he writes well too, only when in the mood.
A gem of a person.
dRoZzY dear,
you can use the above bit to impress girls.
*giggles uncontrollably*
Skeets know your reply.

Ankur urf Anky Panky...Thinks of himself to be the Azeem o shaan Shehenshah of Delhi. If you come across a guy pointing to Hrithik Roshan's poster of Jodhaa Akbar and saying 'this is Ankur', don't think he is insane, you should immediately know it is Anky Panky. Deep thinker. Can solve all problems through logical reasoning. Loves to travel, can click some great pictures (only wish he clicks more), loves his food, loves Delhi. Very helpful. His mood swings make Skeets angry at times. Is Skeety's Partner (no we are not giving out our business plans here). Movie lover. Buzzes me everytime there is a great flick on TV (even though I end up watching only a few).
Besties Partner!

To the Fairy Land and back!

Scribbly Skeets went to the Fairy Land on the weekend.
She wanted to get lost there.
She did.
And now she is back.
Fresh.
SOFT.
Sparkling.
Grinning from ear to ear just like the Cheshire Cat.
She sprinkles some Fairy Dust on all of you.
Keep smiling and be happy.

Hey You!

Yes Yes YOU!

New Year greetings to all of YOU from Scribbly Skeeter :)

Skeety's feathery scribbler sweetheart

Skeety tags Mr. Missing Ankur, Miss Backpakker, Mr.Chaiwala Prashant, Mr. Lovely photocurry Deepak, Miss Sneaky Peeky Juhi, Mr.Khachaak Bobin James, Mr. Case gone S, Mr. Bohemia Subbu, Miss Host of the MAD MAD tea party Anita, Miss Cooking Mommy Asha, Miss Woodsmoke, Mr AC funny sheikh, Miss She is, and Mr. Gayab Talwar to put up on their respective blogs, a picture that they have clicked, which is -

Either: Very close to their heart.

Or: the best picture (according to the self) they have clicked till date.

Choice is yours guys and girls.
I am quite sure that you would enjoy the process of selecting that special picture for this special tag.
It is a happy tag by happy Skeeter :)
And yes I am putting up mine. Two actually.

Update: I am sending the following picture for Bee's Liquid event :) as recommended by Asha.

The Chaiwali's Cuppa (her style)

Keep Writing!
Keep smiling!

Movie Rules and Movies RULE!

Skeety went for a movie and came back cribbing (in the head) like a 100-years' old granny. Oops! Okay agreed Skeety is 257.
Picture this: Skeets with a ballooned face, muttering and muddling hurriedly under her breath; walking fast.
Funny.
Anyway.
For self-satisfaction, or merely putting the cribbing mind into words, Skeety came up with a set of Movie Rules, which obviously none will follow :| ; but which, if followed, will make movie-watching a pleasant experience.

• A Queue is a Q is a Queue.

It will move faster IF and only IF all are just a little more patient.
None will drop a single precious popcorn (slurrrp), none will spill their drink if the queue is followed.

• Make it a point to reach early for the movie (atleast 10 minutes prior).

This way some good people who have reached before you will be saved from the displeasure of seeing your head in between their anxious eyes and the screen, while you are trying to locate your seat.

• Keep your digicams, sweets (chewies), data cables, other such stuff at home/in your car when you know you are going for a movie.

People who have already taken pains to do that, face the displeasure of standing in long queues for their turned to be frisked. Utter displeasure that!

• When using public loos (read the ones at the movie hall) or for that matter the ones at home, ALWAYS remember that time seems to stretch itself longer when you are on the other (out) side of the loo.

The ones standing for their turn will miss more of their movie than you will (all because of your 5 extra minutes in there).
So be quick. Ha!

• Mind your feet!

If you have paid money to watch the movie and enjoy your 'seat' others have done that too! If you have long legs, make them stay put. Do not disturb those sitting in front of you by kicking their seats every now and then.

• Keep your mobile phone on Silent/Off mode. The aliens are watching!