Its here...

It’s that time of the year again, where everyone is looking forward to parties, free booze, food and wine. It’s a time of festivities, it’s a time where people meet and greet, wine and dine.

For me, its one long well deserved (I think) break at the end of the year. It’s been an eventful year. I managed to write 5-6 exams and visited about 4 new countries this year.

Out of the many things we did this year, the highlights were the diamond ring that I bought and the couch which made its way to our home a few days ago. We got wardrobes fitted and double glazing done. We also had a few credit cards and loans cleared off.

On the holiday side, we went to Dubai, Nice, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Paris, Rome, Pisa and Florence this year. We also visited the Lake District (UK) and went to the Leeds Castle this year.

One of my very good friends was in London for majority of 2009 and did enjoy a lot when she was around. I had someone to talk to everyday and also someone to go to places/musicals/shopping with. We went to Paris together and had some interesting/ unforgettable experiences together.

Some up’s and some downs, Some things make us cry.. Some things make us laugh.. I thank God for everything.. And pray that he keeps all my loved ones happy in the coming year.

Happy 2010 to all of you…

I want to....

I want to...

Sky Dive...
Bungee Jump..
Parasail...
River Raft..
Scuba Dive...
Go on a world tour
Go on a cruise..
Visit the Caribbean Islands.
Go on a relaxing holiday...
Own a coffee shop..
Run a restaurant....

and many more..

Roma...

Its been long since I have been here.. :( Don't know why.. just did not have anything to share..or rather..did not bother making the effort.. :(

Just back from a wonderful & fun trip to Italy.. We went to Rome, Florence and Pisa.. Had a blast... Rome was bright and sunny.. a beautiful place. We hired a guide who told us a lot about the Roman history and how the Roman empire came about. For the first half an hour it was interesting after that.. I was like.. Yeah.. Whatever!

The city of Rome itself is extremely beautiful (not as much as London.. but may be I am biased). The streets, the frightfully expensive designer shops, the entire city is filled with tourists.. and luckily a lot of people actually spoke English. Food wise, being vegetarians we stuck to Bruschetta & Penne/Pasta most times. The pizza's in Rome were pathetic! The ice-creams were really really good.. one of the best ice-creams that I have ever had.. slurp...slurp...

Vatican City the smallest sovereign state in the world was fascinating. St Peter's Basilica being the best. Its beautiful.. its an absolute treat to the eyes. The domes, the walls, paintings and the list goes on - Basically Roman Architecture at its best.. Its grand and splendid..


Florence was a nice city.. filled with art and artifacts.. but not my kind... !

80 miles from Florence is Pisa.. a small village where the 'leaning tower of Pisa' is situated...
I just loved this place.. We also got to climb the tower.. it was a great experience. Since the tower is leaning.. as you climb the stairs to go up to the tower.. the power of gravity pulls you to one side. There is always restoration going on.. but even then.. the tower is standing leaning to a side for centuries even after soo many people going up and down the tower every day. Thats probably why its called a 'wonder of the world'

All in all.. was a fantastic trip.. with lots to see and do... The leather shops in Italy were amazing.. I went crazy looking at the shops there, Italian leather is beautiful.. and the designs they have there is superb.. !

ACCACCCACCA part 2

Yay... I am sooo happy about getting through all the four exams that I had written in June 2009.. I just did not have any confidence in passing all four exams.. but it was a pleasant surprise..

The results were scheduled to be out on Monday , 17th Aug.. and we were out the weekend before that. We were visiting the French Rivera. Apart from the fact that it was too hot(36 Degrees Celcius), the trip was excellent.. We visited Nice, Monaco & Monte Carlo... Did not think about my results all weekend.. and started thinking about it as soon as I landed in London...

We reached home early hours of Monday morning (3AM) and guess what.. I logged on straight away to check if my results are out.. On the website, it clearly specified that do not even attempt to check the results before 5AM BST (British Summer Time)..

So, I woke up at 7.00 AM the next morning and was soooo happy after I saw.. the 4 'Pass'.....
All my life, I have never failed an exam.... and failing an exam is one of my worst nightmares..

Thank you God.. for getting me through all the exams....

I am not left with one more exam... and I will be a fully qualified Chartered Accountant.. ! So, hopefully... December 2009 will be the last time I have to ever write exams... !

New.. new..new

Yay... I finally got my 0.5 carat white gold half eternity ring that I had ordered 3 weeks ago.. (pictures to follow this post)

I am very fussy when it comes to jewellery.. Not that I have loads of jewellery, rather I have none.. But I always felt that I should invest in some sort of jewellery that I can wear if not everyday, but atleast most of the time.. Not something that sits in the locker for ages, and gets taken out for someones wedding or some family function..

I was eyeing this diamond studded half eternity ring from a long long time.. but just was never able to make up my mind to spend soo much money on myself.. and most of the time.. something or the other came up....and most of the funds were diverted..

But this time.. I had made up my mind..and wanted to buy something special for my birthday.. something that is special.. Most birthdays so far... I just buy some clothes..and these days..as I don't wait for an occasion to buy clothes, therefore it did not excite me..

Finally, I made up my mind.. went to a jeweller...who we know quite well.. and decided on a ring that I liked.. and since I have chubby fingers :)... he had to get it done to my size.. which he said would take 3 weeks...

So, on the 1st of August 2009.. I am a proud & happy owner of my first diamond ring.. :)

Phew...

We have a really nice pin bowling alley really close to the Cinema hall that we always go to. I sometimes take my friends daughter out to Cinema, a 6 year old who loves to go to Cinema. One such day, while we were heading to watch a movie, she asked, if we could go bowling another day… I welcomed the idea. and thought the kid will enjoy so will I, if we did go bowling.. So I promised her that I will take her another day..

So, after consulting her parents, we (me and MR) took her bowling, and as her mother was pregnant with their second child, they decided that they would join us later. She was all excited and happy that we were going to play etc..

As usual, we were playing the game… and I did not realise what was going on in her mind… In the beginning she was happy and cheerful.. half way through the game, she was glum and grumpy… and towards the end.. she had teary eyes and started howling.. and guess what.. her parents arrived just then.

I did not know why she was crying in the first place, I did not know what to do to calm her down. Tried enticing her with chocolates, ice creams etc, but she would not budge.

She finally disclosed to her father, why she was weeping.. I was confused and did not know what to do! I went back to her, hugged and kissed her and said to her that I was sorry for WINNING!

Yeah.. She was unhappy because I got the most points and I won the game of bowling, so she started howling that I won the game and she did not.

How on earth am I supposed to know that I am not to win the game.. Neither do I have kids of my own nor, when I was a child allowed to cry because I lost a game. As a child, if I lost a game, I was either told to try harder next time or learn the game!

Sigh.. Man, the kids these days.. confuse me!

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