Happy Ballantine Day - Closeup of a bottle of Ballantine's whisky

Happy Ballantine Day - Closeup of a bottle of Ballantine's whisky

Seemingly insignificant pieces - A lamp at Trade Fair 2013

Lamps at India International Trade Fair 2013

There was a fine assortment of lamps, some of those are here.

Paul Walker RIP

I came to know about the death of Paul Walker from the status update of a friend of mine. After reading it, I searched the net to see if this is a hoax or some other stupid thing but to my dismay, it was indeed true and the man is dead. My mind's reaction to his death has been quite slow and has not set in completely as yet. It's not the deaths of someone old for whom I could say "So sad, but he had a fulfilling career". It was not that kind of death where you are instantly filled with grief or shock. Instead my mind started playing the scenes of Fast and Furious in my head. Paul Walker driving, Paul Walker talking to Vin Diesel, Paul Walker busting a rival driver and planting dope to get him arrested. Paul Walker having a beer with Vin Diesel after he saved his ass.

Honestly speaking, I was feeling that the later parts Fast and Furious had not been as good as the initial ones but to know that he is not going to be around to be part of any more sequel is very sad.

What do you mean too much?

I can understand if you thing there has been too many shots of this rose but you have to understand that all my life I have lived in apartments and this is the first time I am living in an independent house, the first time we have a small green pactch and the first time we are growing plants.

Twisted and turned - Close up of a section of a Lamp

The ITPO and the government ministry/agency behind the IITF should evaluate the Trade Fair and do a check on the original agenda with which it was started 33 years ago. In my teens it indeed was a Trade Fair but now its nothing more than a shoping festival. I don't see how what happens for 2 weeks in Novenmber at Pragati Maidan advances Trade or commerce in India... unless retail sales is Trade and Commerce. It is seen by shopkeepers, retailers or brands as an opportunity to sell a lot of stuff in a span of 2 weeks and the ITPO is more than obliging in making it a reality.

Manu and pillar

As he is growing up, he is getting reluctant in posing for camera. Now most of the shots are candid, when he is not aware I am taking a picture. Earlier he would just be him even when I am shooting, now he starts making faces.

Candle in a candle - Home made candle by Manuraj

Candle in a candle - Home made candle by Manuraj
Since last year Manu has been collecting wax from burned up candles on Diwali and has been repeatedly asking to make a candle out of it. We finally got around to doing that this year and realised it is surprisingly simple and doesn't make any mess that we thought it would. This particular candle was made in a glass. Mira melted the wax and poured in in this glass. Now the next thing to add was a wick and since we didn't have that, we placed the regular cylindrical candle in the melted was. When it froze, the candle was ready.