Spring Forward, Fall Back!!

It was just another weekend for us as we cuddled in our cozy sofa watching classic movie of Kamal Hassan, Michael madana kamarajan!! It was around 1:50 am and we still had an hour to go for CSK match ( Both being a cricket fanatic were waiting for the match to commence). Within few minutes we were shocked to realize that the time was 3:00 AM!! We were horrified.. and then we realized the fact -  daylight saving has just started!!

So what is Daylight Saving Time??

Literally speaking, Daylight saving time (DST) or call it as summer time, is the practice of advancing clocks during summer months (that feature more daylight) so that people get up earlier in the morning and experience more daylight in the evening.Most part of the world follow this practice of DST which was proposed way back in 1895. The world which is farther than equator experiences more cold and less sunshine. In these region people are desperate to enjoy the sunshine more than anyone. So they came up with this idea of shifting the clock by an hour during summer so that they can experience sunlight more. This idea also has a argumentally another important advantage of saving the electricity.

Procedure:

As the famous mnemonic goes "Spring Forward, Fall Back!" In New Zealand,  during spring one-hour shift occurs at 02:00 am local time, the clock jumps forward from the last moment of 01:59 standard time to 03:00 DST and that day has 23 hours, whereas in autumn the clock jumps backward from the last moment of 01:59 DST to 01:00 standard time, repeating that hour, and that day has 25 hours.

Purpose:

To understand the depth of the purpose of this confusing idea, me and my husband had a brainstorming discussion at that wee hour! 

Lets take a scenario, Assuming that the sun rises at 6:00 am and sets at 6:00 pm during normal days. Now during summer season, we all know that sun stays for longer than normal days and assuming that the sun rises at 5:00 am and sets at 7:00 pm during this season. According to DST, Spring forward.. so they forward the clock by an hour.. so during DST days the sun rises at 6:00 am ( 5:00 am has been forwarded by an hour!) and sets at 8:00 pm (7:00 pm has been forwarded by an hour!). This means that we get longer time to spend outside in the sunlight before it darkens. This also means that as usual the day breaks at 6:00 am! Technically the daylight is not increased because of this shift, just the utilisation of the sunlight is made effectively!

The same procedure goes during winter. They reverse the clock by an hour (remember "fall back!"), so that they can return to home before it darkens. 

For more detailed explanation : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time

Conclusion:

Whether this shift has been beneficial or not still remains as a dispute but it has certainly not been useful to those who schedule meetings around the world and to all those programmers who have to calculate these complicated timings across the world to get their code working.

I hope I have added more confusion to this already confused procedure!! Catch you all later with another confusing post. :)

Being Mrs. Srinivasan!

Living at the end of the world can sometimes make you feel very lonely.. Of course living besides beach and a beautiful nature is definitely fun but you still miss your loved ones... and specially after marriage one tends to miss their parents a lot..

I live in New Zealand (its almost like living in the end of the world!!), a beautiful country with lovely people.. its been 3 months and I yearn to see my parents and my sister more than anyone.. I yearn to smell the morning filter coffee.. I yearn those squeal of laughter's and tiny pillow fights with my sister.. I yearn those Saravana Bhavan Idlies, Sambhar and Vadais at weekend.. those pani-puri competition with my sister.. those short trips to my perimas house to gulp down the special dishes which she makes with so much love (My perima is an excellent chef and she will call immediately to invite us when she prepares something special ).. those long night chats with my appa during weekend where we both make fun of my sister...those temple visits (there are hardly any temples here and it has been ages since I have done my proper prayer in Kovil).. those festival seasons, we used to have a blast with our cousins in our grandparents place.. those aashirvadhams from elders just to get those 10-20 Rs...those little fights with my sister for choosing new dress during festivals(both wish to wear the same dress at the same time!!)...those were days..those were beautiful memories, which I wish to go back and just hold it with me...

Missing all these small happiness can be very tough but not when you get such a best partner in your life. Probably I am very lucky ( and tough luck for my husband to get me as wife!) to get such a wonderful person. He never made me feel I am missing my family.. He takes care of me just like my mother and loves me more than any one could have!! 

I am silly and crazy sometimes.. I sometimes cook like a disaster.. and when I am down with a fever, I make his life miserable demanding everything and making him do all household chores. Never does he complains.. never does he gets pissed off. He just smiles looking deep in my eyes and whispers "anything for you, wifi". From the time of marriage till now I have always been fascinated living with him.. I get to know him more each day.. be it his patience (he would be patient only with me.. not with others!), his intelligence, his dedication.. his craziness.. his childish behavior.. his bursting wittiness (when ever we have an argument, he corners me with his wittiness that I get stuck with words!).. and his super cuteness ( those dimples in his cheeks, any girl would die for!). I somehow feel he looks more adorable when he wakes.. his imperfect hair with a grin in a face and pleadingly asking "coffee please" with half sleep.. Awww..... I just love to see this every morning, so I purposely delay his morning coffee!! The best part is when we have fights.. we both keep a stern angry face and try to think of something to scold and suddenly burst up laughing.. ha ha ha..time just fades and we both lose track of time with each other's company and our chemistry works so well that we can understand each other just by exchanging looks!

All those missing moments which I yearned for, are slowly transformed by his hugs.. his smiles.. his mokka jokes to bring smile in my face..his fights (and later he tries to convice me).. his childish looks and just being with him.. and actually live with him daily!!

I just love everything in him not only because of what he is but also because of the way he takes care of me.. I see my parents in him! I feel that He is the best thing ever to have happened to me!! Thank you so much for choosing me as your life partner (by the way I still remember that you took 3 days to say "yes" to me!! ).

On his special birthday (special because its his first birthday after our marriage!). I would pray god that he should have a healthy and smiling life ahead with lots of love and laughter.. I know for sure that I would not be able to shower him as much love as he gives me.. but I promise to keep you very happy, love you all my life and make your life as miserable with tight hugs.. and yea.. I would try to stop those stupid things which irritate you.

Coz' you are my everything and I am your everything.. and we both live in our own world!

With lot of hugs and kisses,

To my Hrithik Roshan,

From your crazy wifi!!!

First Month In Kiwi Land

After spending a month happily in London, my husband got a new project in the Kiwi land. Off we went to Auckland, excited and nervous to start our new life from scratch in a new country. I knew it was going to be tough for us as we were unprepared for this challenge (it was all decided in a week that we had little time except for packing).

We landed Auckland at midnight and managed to book a room in hotel. The first dawn was beautiful ( considering our room had a terrific view of a rose garden with a backdrop of sea). We were dumbstruck by the nature's beauty!!!

                                                                                          View from our hotel

It was soon time for my husband to get back to work and I had a tough job to find a new house. First few weeks, I literally roamed all through the streets of Auckland with a pocket map in my hand and asking every passersby if they had a house to rent!!( I know it sounds absurd and no wonder I got cold stares from many). During this search I learnt a lot about kiwis..

• Kiwis are wonderful and cheerful people. They always wear a smile on their face and greet you even if you are a stranger.
• Kiwis love their burgers and pizzas and everything and anything has bacon in them( we being veges had hard time to search from the menu and we mostly ended up with just a toasted bread!).
• They are extermly punctual. (If it is 5:00 then its 5:00, not a minute late not a minute early)
• New Zealand is a very expensive place to live and everything is sky high, especially houses.
• Most houses are studio type apartments (your bedroom,living room, dining table and kitchen are in one single room!!!). At first I thought it was studios!!!
• From any part of the city you can have a great view of the sea!! We are in the central Auckland, and its basically a hill and an island! 
• Last but not the least, finding house is very tough ( make it as very very!!). 

In order to get a house, you need to fix an appointment with an agent for viewing the apartment -> after viewing you get the application form -> fill in the form and mail the scanned copy -> the agents perform a background checking -> they contact the landlord of the house and who ever they think is suitable tenant gets the nod!! 
We had very tough time in finding house given the fact that we need to check the availability of house and agents number to fix appointment through online portals (No, we can't ask passersby for rental house after all!!) and we had no internet facility!!!! (Our hotel provided 15 minutes free internet per day), so that means I had 15 minutes to search all I needed for a day (that is so very crazy!!!).
Time was flying and it was soon a week and we still lived in the hotel, with no clue of what will happen next and where we will go. Our money was draining and we couldn't afford such a costly hotel for another week and striving on bread-jam was making us sick and weak. We longed for a proper food.We thought probably it was a bad idea to have moved here. Our hopes were fading as one by one, agents were rejecting our application forms.
 They say everything happens for the good and probably this too was for a reason. It was during this struggle, we found strength in each other. We gave support whenever the other person felt down. We stood together in our struggle and started understanding each other and felt how much we both are meant to be together. We felt like we were made for each other and how thankful we were to our parents for finding the right person.

                                                                                 One of the streets in Auckland

It took 3 weeks, 16 application forms, several sleepless nights and 3000$ to find our new house. I bet its one of the beautiful house and awesome sea view, our house is just next to the harbour!!!And probably our struggle was worth all the pain..

                                                                         Well! The building you see is our apartment 

                                                                                        View from our apartment

Its friday night and as I wait for my husband to come home, I write this blog with peace. Life now seems to be much better. These little barriers made us realise how perfect we were for each other so thank you kiwi land for giving the perfect start for young couple to get knowing each other.

... And they lived happily ever after☺

Best Day Of My Life

Every ones life changes after marriage, so did mine! I never dreamt I will get such a caring family and ever loving husband!! My life took a complete turn... I transformed from a girl to his Lady, from a working girl to a house wife, from spending time in TV serials to cooking in kitchen... and I thoroughly enjoyed my complete transformation and new lifestyle.
As I turn on the heater and sit back comfortably in my couch drinking hot coco and looking at window sill, the fading sunset in the backdrop of tall building, remincing the D day of my life.

As I wait for my husband to return home from office, let me take you through the Best day of my life... My Wedding Celebrations:

Aiyengar's ( Sub caste in Hindu religion ) wedding is way different from other wedding celebration. Ours was a two day wedding celebration. First day started with following ceremonies : naming the bride,( yeah.. before marriage they re-name the bride!!), changing sacred thread of the groom ( a sign that the groom is no longer a bachelor!!), engagement, followed by reception for friends and relatives( wherein friends and relatives of Groom and bride are introduced to each other and wishes are showered to the new would be couples!! Thats ME and MY husband )

Second day, is the wedding day... Our muhurtham was early in the morning and the ceremonies started around 4:30 in the morning...

Pre-wedding costume,

 First ceremony is Kasi yatra ceremony, where the groom gets dejected with life and decides to give up worldly pleasure and become a saint. He then starts for Kasi yatra ( Pilgrimage). Its then, the brides father stops the groom and requests his daughters hand to him. The groom seeing the bride, accepts for marriage.. and the wedding begins....

Beginning of the wedding is indicated by exchanging garlands in the mid air,( bride and groom's relatives carry them on their shoulders so that they exchange garlands)

After exchanging garland, groom holds brides hand and takes a vow of never leaving her hand.

 After which, they are made to ride in a swing, holding hands. Swing represents life, indicating that life has few ups and downs and no matter what, we, couples, will travel these together.Its the symbol of being together through sadness and happiness.

 Groom gets ready for tying the knot. The brides father happily gives his daughters hands to the groom to take care of her for rest of the live.

The mangalyam, sacred thread is held on the brides head to indicate the bride should lead the family by constant focus without wavering her mind and should keep her man and family together.

The groom gets ready for the wedding ceremony.

The Best MOMENT of my life, for which I had waited 22 years of my life...

my man tying the mangalayam.. indicating we both are husband and wife hereon.

After which, Metti is worn by the bride.. and the groom holds her feet and leads her to the seven steps.

 The seven steps around the fire god indicates 7 promises made for 7 lives which includes food, healthy and prosperous life, wealth, love and respect for each other, noble children, peaceful lives, companionship, togetherness, loyalty and understanding between themselves.

The groom makes the newly wedded bride to sit on his lap and shows the witnesses that she is henceforth my wife.

The groom keeps kumkum on brides forehead indicating that she is a married women.

Both hold hands together for the rest of the life's journey.

This is how I became from Miss Sarathy to Mrs Srinivasan... and as i complete my coco, I wonder how my future will unfold...

For sure, there will be more best moments of my life in the years to come..