Riots in London

The riots in London really shocked me.the way young boys looted the shops and even injured people, shows the lack of civic sensitivity and morality in the people.Nothing...being jobless or poor or without any hope..absolutely nothing justifies this sort of behaviour..it was pure criminalism. Because there will be thousands of people in the world who are jobless, and poor but it doesnt mean that they start killing other people.
Two things  very clearly come out of this incident..
One that society must look inward and give more importance to teaching morals and ethics, less to consumerism as is rampant in west and now coming to India too.
Two..Suing of doctors, police etc demoralises them, here police action was not very swift and sometimes people were left to fend for themselves, police is not given even real bullets..too much of citizen rights and all has made citizen also forget their duties...all the citizens also have a duty towards their country and they have no right to torch either govt property or other's shops and houses, they must be made to pay for their crimes..as here everywhere CCTV are used so one can identify those criminals.

As I was thinking about this I heard the news that in India also.in Moradabad communal riots happened..there also every year when people bring Kanwars, areas become sensitive to riots..I dont know why...some people question the practice of bringing it, but its individual's choice and if they want to do it, their journey must be facilitated and they must be given security too..thats govt.s duty...instead lot of traffic jams happen and this time riots.

ARE YOU LUCKY

Just now I was reading Kanu's post and it struck a chord in me. I have also heard from many people that I am lucky to have such good children or I must have donated pearls in my last life to get such well mannered and good children, but nobody wants to see the hard work put into making them what they are. I am not denying children's own individuality and their own contribution, because parents can do that much only after that its children who have to work hard to reach there, but from my side I have also done a lot of hard work..like..

I loved my children a lot, but to me love never meant pampering only, from a very young age, I instilled in them that they couldnt buy everything, they have to choose what they want..or if it was a big item, then save fifty percent and I shall add rest and then they could get it.I worked hard to make them hard working...I firmly believe that there is one thing that scores over every other quality and gives success in life and it is..hard work...and people have this false notion that rich dont work, I have seen that they become rich only because they work harder than anybody else.....show me a single person who doesnt work and is successful....at least i dont know anyone....

No matter what, they always got their lunch dinner and BF all in time and properly, no friends, movies or party could change their schedule.I made a schedule and stuck to it.Never bothered about me time or my personal entertainment.

From the beginning they were told that a person is respected for his qualities, not for money or clothes, so gain the qualities and you will be respected, dont worry about fashionable dresses and latest gizmo.That was the time for education and character building and should be devoted to that only.And I followed this principle wholly, I  never bothered about the prices of the gifts etc..given or taken.....I led them thru example...even now I dont like  people who like the things with the price tag...I like to live within means.

Every day they couldnt indulge in junk food..NO..they were served healthy food only, once in a week they could eat as they liked....and for that I prepared food every day.and tried to make it tasty too.

If I denied them TV during exams, then even I also didnt see it myself, its futile to expect them not to be tempted.if we cant control ourselves.

And I never shouted in front of them, to nobody, never used foul language, or rudeness even....thats the way they know..that no one speaks rudely to elders in our family..it doesnt mean that we dont have differences in our family, they are but sort them out coolly.....thats what I like:)

I cancelled many trips and parties, as they were not convenient to my little ones, but never made any face as if my life is spoiled etc....they were my little angels and I loved them and love them now.

Still so many times I feel guilty that I could have done this and that and I didnt do enough..there was much more that could have been done.....there is never a limit to what parents can do, and should do...as in a way they make or break their children's future with their up bringing,..again I am not saying that individual's contribution is any less, but children are raw material, its upto the parents to mould them as they want....first ten years of their life are most important as they make the foundation...

Parenting is not a cakewalk...those who take a short cut always get shortchanged later in life...its only those who go a long and hard way get the fruit.

London sight seeing

Normally I dont watch TV soaps, but since here I dont have much choice so started watching whatever comes on Star Plus..Last week there was one very good episode in Sasuraal genda phool...Here from the beginning everybody has loved and looked after their new DIL who is good from heart, but otherwise totally spoiled brat, but she also changes a lot with love.and here they have brought out a very good point that for living in a joint family, its not enough, if you have a good heart, but you have to be sensitive to other's feelings and joys and sorrows..it shouldnt be all about our own comfort, convenience and likings. The way the elders explain everything without being biased and the youngsters listen and accept their mistakes is very heart warming...there was one particular incidence , very natural, where Suhana promises to make pizza for everyone, and other DILs do lot od primary work in collecting the raw material to help her, and then Suhana forgets all about it and says breezily ..sorry, I will do it next time and goes out to dinner with her husband..all others feel so bad and she has no idea that she did anything wrong...She is good at heart, but that is not enough, she has to be sensitive to other's needs also.

Last sunday we went  out to see London and took an hop on hop off tout,I think it is 26 Pound per person and very convenient, goes to every place and one can get down, whatever one wants to see. Since we have seen many things earlier though 30 years back:) so  first we just took a round sitting in the bus and then got down at Tower bridge..and roamed around a bit and took a wrap from SUB and cheese toastie and coffee from Starbucks..food was quite good and reasonable over there and the area is very pretty to just walk around. From there we took the cruise (it is included in the ticket.so why not avail it).Then we got down at Westminster Abbey and walked down to  London Eye.So much crowd is seen everywhere that it looks like India...Otherwise in US its difficult to see many people on road.
London Eye is a new attraction here and what a crowd there was...they are really making money through this,..there is a long queue for tickets and then for entry, so we had bought the tickets online...an added value is there 4 minute 4 D movie..it was fun. London Eye is a giant wheel sort with some 19..I am not sure about the no... capsules, and it goes quite slow, so the purpose is not thrill, its to see the London from the top.Here also there are many restaurants, we took burger from the McD, and it was yummy.

London eye

view from the top

Big Ben from the cruise

Then I wanted to take another round in the bus, but it started raining, so my hubby wanted to go back home to his grandson.

Swaminarayan temple

Yesterday we went to Swaminarayan temple here and it is very huge and amazingly clean and grand and makes you feel very much at home and I think the same trust has made one in Toronto too...and near by they have an Indian restaurant.Shayona with shop too and they sell everything Indian, we had dhokla samosa and aloo bonda..everything was very tasty.

Traffic in London is as  bad as in India and sometimes even worse..its very irritating to travel in car, as even 14 miles take around one hour minimum, roads are narrow and  bumpy and traffic sense is completely missing...its chaotic sometimes....so much so that  we go by tube even for airports.

We went to see Westfield Mall..its newly constructed and huge also, but I have seen better mall in Toronto, so didnt find so amazing.....here one section is called..The Village and it has all designer brands like..Gucci, Dior, coach, Jimmy choo etc etc..I had seen one ladies hand bag in India being sported by many celebrities and in Aisha also, and everywhere they write..price on request, so I was very curious to know it and when I got the opportunity I asked,,it was for 1600 pounds:)

When I was in Zurich, I thought that it was very expensive, as I had seen US and it is very reasonable, but now when I am in London, I find it the most expensive city and I dont feel like doing any shopping.,not that I wanted to do any:)

Here the girls for housework areeasily available and quite reasonable too, I feel very sad that girls from India come here and do all menial jobs for pennies and are still happy though they are living alone in a new country without their family and working so much,why cant our govt provide some opportunities in our own country to earn a decent living.

FIRST WEEK IN LONDON

When i was waiting at the Chennai airport, in the lounge two women were sitting with three vacant chairs, but when I wanted to sit there, they said that they had their family coming....this sort of reservation irritates me a lot...in the waiting lounge, nobody is there permanently, by the time their family would come, there may be few more seats vacant..such people are very inconsiderate type.

I reserved AI India ticket only because of their service and food, and this time both were not good.One air hostess was so indifferent to passengers that I thought that she shouldnt be here. They didnt serve anything till we were in the air for one hour and then too, neither food was good, nor any variety..it looks like the airline is poverty stricken..but then why penalise the passengers, we are paying full fare, cut your own costs.Once serving the food, nobody came for even water, for three hours, even if we called, they just ignored...now AI has lost atleast me, I would never travel with them.
London has become so crowded and a structure in total concrete, there are hardly any open places or greenery. and traffic is as slow or sometimes even slower than Chennai:)
But we are living in an apartment on the Thames....its just so beautiful..whole day we can watch cruises and ships going here and there.
Here little kids are given a very special care and most of the things are provided free from the govt ...its something worth emulating for us...for one month midwives come home and chk mother and child and provided all the care and medicine free.
Some norms are very different too, like they dont allow us to give water to our grandson, whereas in India it is highly recommended., they dont give a bath daily, which is mandatory for us.

Lastly I am sorry that i am not able to reply to the comments and chk other blogs, but let me settle down a little bit:).......

My Father

On this father day, I would like to share a few things about my father.I had a father whom not only his children, but his whole village loved and admired.Its very rare to inspire such trust, love and respect.

Today when I read in the blogs about unequality and all that, I dont understand much, as I was born in 50's and still my father loved me a lot, pampered and provided everything I demanded. I never felt any discrimination, Only thing different was that he taught us to behave, to learn values of a good family, as he always thought that I would be a live torch bearer of his name, when I go to other family as bahu. Today girls shout at the top about their parents ..they are so great and all that, but my father taught me never to praise my parents in front of inlaws, instead my good behaviour will bring them the real praise from their mouth only.

Even After I got married, he was always there to support me, whenever and wherever I required, but he never put any claims on  me or my family. He never said that he should have equal rights in my house or anything like that..according to him, girl's parents should never interfere in their daughter's life after marriage, if they want her to live happily.My parents hardly ever accepted any gifts even.

Once when i was very young, I used to go to another city for education. And our driver left me after I boarded the bus, he didnt wait for the bus to start. Unluckily bus had some technical problem, and it didnt go and I had to return home all alone, and it had become dark also. MY dad called the driver and fired him left and right. Driver even said that he could have lost thousands, if he stayed,  but my dad said..to me my daughter is much more important than money,always remember, that to me nothing comes before family. Her safety is paramount, and it should never happen again...That incident made so much impact on me that family always comes first....

He had so many accidents in life, but god always saved him, and his reason was....your good deeds always protect you in contigencies....bhalaa kaam aagey aa jaata ha bachaane ko.....And I learned that good deeds are your protection in life.

In our area every one used to say that if anyone has any financial or any other problem go to him(my dad), from his door no one is denied....he will go to any length to help others and has no vicious bone in his body. Even those who bade bad for him, even if they needed him, he would go.Others before self.that was his mottoo

We had many  employees  and many were muslims, but they were all  like a family, and they loved him from his heart and who were ready to give their life to him, he always treated his employees with lot of love and respect, and generosity, on outings, they all ate with him only..no segregation....'
Our family was secular in behaviour, not in words.

He taught his children to be honest and ethical and kind to others, and today not only me, I can vouch for all my siblings that whatever we may be, but we can never be dishonest, or inhuman to any body.My brother has imbibed almost all his values, and with the kind of ethics and honesty he does his business and behaves in personal life..very rare to see today........and my sisters they are so kind and always helping others..

He used to say that anyone who cheats never prospers, and anyone who cheats an honest person is always destroyed on the end.

When my dad was alive, I couldnt even imagin that I could live without him, but this also I learned that life goes on........

My little bundle of joy

Tomorrow I am leaving , going to London to be with my new born grandson:)...These little angels are such a delight to hold and cherish and god has granted me sch an occasion, so I am going to take it with a open heart, full of joy.and I hope and wish that I would get time to share my experiences with all of you, till then enjoy!!!