That time we went river rowing.
On a windy saturday morning, we set out on a bite sized road trip to the beautiful lucid green Oxford. One hour drive through the scenic winding roads, we kept hoping for a no-rain situation to make the most out of an hour or two of rowing through the canals. Sun was playing peekaboo and when we reached, huge grey clouds crept over us. The autumnal chill had set in and it was getting very windy. Contemplating on the choice of the day and escapade, we decided to take the plunge anyway.
We reached the canal and it was flooded with eager bunches waiting to be punted along or to get their bum in the best boat around. It's always so amusing and entertaining to see people try to get their balance as they try and step in the boat and then break into splits of laughter. I mean, who needs to hire a boat when one can sit on the bank and watch that for a good laugh or two.
It was beautiful. We could have gone for the chauffeured punt but instead, got our adventure hats on and decided to take the oars in our hands. I mean, HIS hands. He did all the rowing while i settled in and steered him through the path.
I'm desperately trying to paint a beautiful picture where we row effortlessly through the gentle waves of the river and everything is magical and musical. But in reality ,we hovered with the boat for half an hour, hit other punts and ducked heads to save our face from branch whiplashes.
Half an hour in, he got the drift. The rhythm caught in and it became easy, calming and we sort of drifted with the ripples.
We were joined by couple of ducks eager to get fed with bread crumbs and two of these beauties who had absolutely no fear whatsoever.
After handing over the boat, we decided to have a peak inside the botanic garden nearby.
There was an indoor rainforest sorts which has been so beautifully maintained. The ginormous cactus soaring through the sky and touching the roofs prove the same.
Also, the photo above is a gentle nudge to myself to go easy on the cheese and tortilla chips.*runs to get the yoga mat*. And also, a memoir of what getting dressed in the dark looks like.
We saw so many unique and interesting plants which left us in wonder. Amazing what nature churns out, a reminder that everything and everyone has a purpose in this world.
The place is my idea of what heaven would look like.
I would like to quote a 90 year old grandma who spotted this the same time as me, "Look at the size of that f*cking pumpkin". I let out a laugh. I love cool grandmas.
We reached a greenhouse which screamed Kerala kalyana mandapam. The smell of jasmine was so overpowering that the malayali in me grinned with joy. Also look, bananas. Ah!
Overall, this place is ideal for a first date. Or an outing with family. Or with friends. Or for an anniversary. Basically it fits the bill for everything if you like lush green countryside with a calm river and couple of ducks to keep you company for an hour or two.
You know, nothing screams romantic more than a ride in the boat with a date. I only wish for more swans and it could easily match up to the scene in ‘Notebook’ . Will surely go again next summer. I love me some lush countryside!
August in doodles.
It's been absolute yonks since I last logged in and documented my random musings. These past few months were HECTIC. I've finally taken out some time for myself and gone back to the same old routine where I come up to my loft with a cup of tea and doodle away to music or a movie. Simple pleasures! There is a lot to be said when it comes to appreciating the smaller and finer details of everyday mundane. Our house is almost done but we are still drowning in to-do lists. So I've decided to slow down a bit, get my blogging mojo back and get rolling.
Here is August in doodles.
Thats me doing a wee bit of gardening while the mister does most of the sweat draining work.
Because paranoid is my surname. Worrying about anything and everything.
Most of August evenings were spent either working on our garden or going to garden centres. Bought more plants than I would ever need. My kind of BONG.
Bake a cake they said. Its therapeutic they said. *Rolls eyes*
We walked through a giant of a park one sunny evening and took in all the calm serenity.
LAUGHS. LOTS OF IT.
Honest to blog.
Sri for many, ammu for some, ellikunj for one and an unknown identity for the rest.
Sri is well chuffed with her life at the moment. She has become more resilient and has learnt to take life at ease.
Sri is well chuffed with her life at the moment. She has become more resilient and has learnt to take life at ease.
Some days she feels like she has the world in her hands, and other days, she feels like the world is caving in on her.
Sri is unsure of a lot of things but has learnt to stand her ground even with people who means the world to her. She has realised that misinterpretation of her intentions is not a flaw in her personality, but a misjudgment of the said people. She can't always help it.
She sees the person who was blocked from her life three years ago, who still manages to pry on her life till date. Yes, she sees you; visiting her blog and checking on her almost everyday. Somedays she laughs at your misery, and other days, she feels sorry for your sad existence.
She still feels dejected over friends who accused her of things she never did. Some days she feels like curling into a ball and crying, and other days, she keeps her head held high.
She manages to find happiness in the smallest things and has realised those things are totally worth it.
She shouldn't feel bad about the ones who left her in draught, without giving her a chance to explain or check facts. But she does, almost every single day. Some days she feels sad, hurt, confused and angry, and other days, all these emotions at once.
She has understood that her biggest blessing is her family and her better half and to never take things for granted; People, good days, good health and balance.
She has grown to love this space and gets extremely agitated when someone tries to sprout similar content from it. She has understood that originality cannot be replicated and she shouldn't be effected by it.
Sri is learning to be kinder each day. Somedays she fails, and other days, she reminds herself that it is in fact the biggest virtue.
This is Sri in 2016; still panics at the slightest imbalance, impatient, fussy and a bit all over the place. Somedays she discovers a new her, and other days, it's the same old, silly she.
You & I.
Dear You,
When we grow old and grey, we will look back at this and think how different our life was. How amazingly magical and wonderfully chaotic it was. How we have changed over time, both physically and as people. How, we are just as dysfunctional and imperfect as any other couple, but what we hold for each other is extremely rare and fresh.
I have had this planned for months; finding and collating video files and making a draft in my head. Can i just mention how difficult it was to find a video with you in it? This one was a mammoth edit but worth the effort. I love how we celebrate the tiniest things and find joy in the mundane. Let's fill our new home with many more amazing memories and endless laughter and keep at it till the very end.
Here is something to look back at and smile, for years to come.
Love,
Me.
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