They have something

 No one can take away from them! “Sur!” They can sing.

https://youtu.be/H4gi7aI4zpE?si=dUNjFvYWHqBiRgrp

This just came up randomly when I opened You Tube tonight! My Christmas gift on Christmas Eve!

Veenu Banga

December 24, 2025

11:46 pm

Tis the Season

 Of Christmas and special days for all the children of the book! Seasons Greetings and Joy and Peace to the World!

 https://www.jacquielawson.com/ecard/pickup/r8aed400112fc4100985367a8dca04b03?source=jl999&utm_medium=pickup&utm_source=share&utm_campaign=receiver

Veenu Banga

12/24/2025

1:01 pm

Christmas Eve already

Came home close to 11:00 pm, (technically yesterday, 23rd) after a Tesco run, and having watched the second Panto of the season, Snow White. It was lovely! Best two and a half hours of stage presence that flew by in a flash. Ate ice cream in the intermission. Absolutely delicious- British whole milk and full cream. With bits of strawberries that brought a smile at every bite. :-)

Finished watching the whole series of Lark Rise to Candleford, after a quick bite to eat, as we were all hungry having eaten dinner much earlier. Cold will do that to you. 

Lark Rise is such a sweet name, but the farming community is depicted as a forgotten hamlet of the working class farm hands, living off the land owned by rich farmers. Candleford is the nearest town. Lark Rise to Candleford has the most thought provoking dialogue, and if I were to watch it again, I should do so with a notebook and pen, to write down those phrases and sentences that the characters speak with such earnestness; and the reading of which would regale me when I revisit them. Like savoring some deeply penetrating flavor or soul searching wisdom. That sounds just like the language of these charming hamlets with their endearing characters, my favorite being Minnie, in her effusive simplistic mannerisms. 

Winter has its own charms, and I'm not feeling it so much, probably because it's steadily and slowly crept up and grown on me. It did feel like a blast upon our return from Australia, in November, not just because we were coming from summer (which felt like winter on some days) but also because when we left in October it was still warm here, not even autumn cool. Now that winter has truly settled in, its presence is more defined, being felt inside the house and outside, in the weather, but more strikingly in the landscape and how it defines our days.

Putting my pure Italian wool coat to full use. Remember buying it in Berlin, where we visited all their nine major Christmas Markets. I had gone ill prepared for the German winter in December. It had even snowed while we  were there. The perfect coat was hard to find, and after looking at so many shops in the big mall there. It is perfect for me, not heavy, just the perfect length and an ever durable style, the kind that cannot go out of fashion, is smart and has just the right touch of formality, without being fussy. 

Back to the Panto. It was a much better production than the production at the Belgrave Theater we saw last month. Cheaper and better. The theater scene at Rugby never fails to surprise one. I think that's one of the joys of life in the UK- loads of theatrical productions, like the fabulous show we saw at the Isle of Wight in August. Anywhere we go in the UK, there's always good theater!  

On that note, it's hello to one day closer to Spring!

Veenu Banga

24th December 2025

1:44 am

Bye, bye, Shanghai!

 Bye bye, Shanghai! 

On to CGD. 10:00 sharp and in my seat and belted. 5D and A is in 3A. Older looking upholstery in the 777 800 Boeing. Nice menu but not going to eat, as 12 hours overnight flying and we arrive CGD in the early morning, then another short flight to BHX. Yeah, Australia is far away.

Internet available inflight here as well. Was hard to connect in the lounge, so could not post what I wrote earlier. 

1:03 am my phone time. 11:10 hours left to destination. What a blessing my white head of hair is to me. The flight attendants fuss over me so much. Closed my cubicle and wished me goodnight. Hope I can catch a nap! 

5:38 am now. We flew over China, the Gobi desert (read about it in geography in school!) and are now flying over Kazakhstan. Cockpit shows flying towards and just about at the Arab Sea. Then veering leftwards, probably go over the Captain Sea. I think we’re not allowed over Russian Airspace so avoiding that. France supporting Ukraine so their flagship carrier is denied the convenience. Probably turn back up over the southern Black Sea, Turkey and then back up over Bulgaria, Slovakia, Austria, and Northwards to France. 🇫🇷 

See a place on an island called Cagliari and Ajaccio to its South, where it borders the Ligurian Sea. To its left is the Tyrrhenian Sea, and upwards to t Jr e left Albert Sea. Just hearing their names. Also the island Palma with the Belarus Sea separating it from Spain! All these unknown to me seas! 

More new names, Laghouat, Ouargia, Timimoun, Adrar, Aoulef, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Mopti, Tamanrasset, Niamey, and Kano, many Islamic sounding names. 

Another 6 hours and 5 minutes left in flight. And ve 6:10 am on my phone, so China that many hours ahead. Not sure time in France, but they’d be same as Amsterdam and an hour ahead of GB, Great Britain as it comes up on some systems. 

Map shows we just skirted the Aral Sea. To the left of it, cities such as Nukus, Chimboy, Tagta, Khiva, Urgench, and Turtkuk. Wonder what place that is, a piece of green space surrounded by light brown, clay colored land. 

Messaging on Clan while writing this. How far flying has come, to have this available however many feet high in the sky! This app not providing that information. 

5:45 minutes left to destination now. I’m a little hungry. Hadn’t eaten much dinner as was late and also full. 

8:49 as per my phone time. 3:25 minutes to go still. Watched Bkack Bag the movie, as recommended by K and V who both watched on their flights. It was nice, but watched it with subtitles like I always do. No headphones as I find the noise offensive. Not a movie person so this is a lot of movies. One full movie on each flight. The flight tracker is more exciting. Flying over Türkiye 🇹🇷 now! 

11:03 according to my phone, so must be Shanghai time morning. We have an hour and 11 minutes left to arrival in Paris, and it’s supposedly around 6:00 am local time, since arrival at Birmingham is GMT 9:15 am. So one more plane ride, then an Uber or a taxi home to our city. 

Had requested the mushroom quiche mid flight as was hungry and they had given two options by request, the other being shrimp and beef noodles. So the attendant took it out and proceeded to bake it freshly. Brought it to my seat about 20-25 minutes later, so not frozen and microwaved. Had a proper crust

They call a mushroom omelette vegetarian. Seriously. 

Also had tea, was a Ceylon black. Now 12 minutes to arrival and seatbelt sign just came on. Thank you God for safe travels. Thank you for the joyfully blessed moments with old friends and with new adventures. Brings a lump to my throat and tears on the verge of spilling thinking about the ‘mundane’ activities of grocery shopping and travel in Sydney and Canberra. 

In the old was so much that was new, as it has gone through regeneration and revitalization of new proportions. May all who dwell in the land Down Under thrive and prosper and stay united in their diversity. Till life or travel brings me back to those shores again, I remain ardently in love with a land that allowed me to start life again. Thank you Australia 🇦🇺 and Advance Australia Fair! 

Veenu Banga

November 17th, 2025

Somewhere over Paris, one minute from the runway at Charles De Gaule airport. And an effortless smooth touchdown!  

12:10 on my phone and 5:10 Paris time! 

It’s 6 C in Paris, feels like 2C. High today of 10. 

Rugby is now 3 and feels like -2. High today if 8C ad low of 1C. Sydney was 30C high on Adi Sunday when we left. 

Au Revoir Sydney!

 Au Revoir Sydney! 

Until we meet again, my love, I carry you in my heart. Au will always be home, an anchor, safety. Of all the adventures and comings and goings, none felt so personal as this visit. Cementing that the heart lies here, and why am I not where the heart is?

Despite the noise and crowds, the air just felt familiar. Moreno in CBR, where 8 days were not enough. 

Writing from seat 11 L on an A 350, of China Eastern enroute to Shanghai. My first time on mainland China. 🇨🇳 Decided on “Follow the Plane ✈️ option on the Flight tracker option in my TV screen. Have about just shy of three hours there, before boarding to CGD. Then on to BHX from CGD, arriving Monday morning in the UK. 

Left the hotel early enough, Pakistani taxi driver who’s been here since 2012. From Lahore. Airport was not too busy though checkin took time. Had to miss going to the Sky Team lounge as TRS lines too long, and decided not worth the wait. Was sucky, as Sydney lounge would have been awesome. The amazing quality of produce. Had mangoes and lychees and oranges, 🍊 fingerling banana and apple, delicious golden and geeen kiwis purchased at Fyshwick Markets. And in Sydney from Paddys  Market. Shopped at Coles and Woolies in CBR, and at the IGA in Haymarket- full of Asian groceries. The IGA at Redfern was a class apart. However it’s not surprising since the whole area is so gentrified. 

Abel was right. I’ve moved on from Meadowbank. The high rises told me Meadowbank has moved on. So got some closure there. It’s become congested and just not the same. The trees have grown larger and the canopies are taking up more airspace. Which is not a bad thing. 

Our attendant is He Jing, and she just laid the table for me, and told me, “we have WiFi to connect to the Internet.” She brought out a card with instructions on how to access it and handed it to me. So perhaps I’ll post this inflight, instead of leaving it in my notes. 

Was such a hectic trip and when meeting up with folks, did not seem like the years have gone by at all. Seemed like yesterday. We were able to catch up from where we left off. 

William, the Yugoslav landlord of our Airbnb in Canberra was a great bloke. Very spacious two bedder, two bathrooms and large living areas, in Braddon, very handy to Civic. 

They just came offering wines, juices and drinks and I asked for ginger ale. She said Ginger Ale and showed me an orange can with all Chinese wring. Poured it in a glass and left me with the rest of it in the can. Honestly, doesn’t taste like ginger ale to me. Should have just asked for sparkling water. A gave me the window seat and took mine across the aisle. Clear blue skies outside- the happy blue of Australian skies. K thinks it’s the thinning ozone layer in the atmospheric conditions. 

The first meal just served and done, as we’re flying over Rockhampton. The salad was interesting with a balsamic vinaigrette and one half a cherry tomato with greens and asparagus tips. The balsamic must have dripped on my shirt as it left a spot! 

Too much food, but then I hadn’t eaten breakfast or anything since morning, except two cups of tea! The stain on the left side of my shirt is annoying and tacky. Tried to scrub it with a wet towel, but not successful enough. Should carry a Tide pen- how could I not remember that?! Should have asked for a bib, but not sure they have them. Restaurants in Amsterdam do. 

It’s almost 2:00 pm, so about two hours after take off. I think I’ll nap. It’s a 10 hour flight and they’re offering two meals. I hope the other is breakfast and not sure if it’s the light meal, but I think they both offer what I want. Congee with Chinese pickles! They used to serve it in the Singapore Conrad, and it was very nice. Fresh natto too. Wonder if the Chinese pickles will be something similar? 

The window shades are electronic. So I’m quite impressed with China Eastern. Going to stretch out and maybe take a nap. Not changing just yet. If I write, the trip will go faster and happier. Or perhaps edit and finalize the scripts languishing in Pages. Anyway, A is going to spoil me if he keeps on doing this! 2:19 pm Sydney time. 

Okay, I’m impressed. Wasn’t expecting much, but the service is very attentive. Restrooms clean and they’re folding the toilet paper after almost each visit. Opening doors and the toiletries are pretty good too. An adjustable magnifying mirror built into the wall mirror, which slides in and out depending on which part of the face the focus is required upon. 2:42pm on the phone so presuming Sydney time. Becoming teary eyed at the thought of leaving my country behind. Even the Uber driver, Shahroze, said, “Australia bahut accha hai, sirf door bahut hai.” So true, far from everywhere else in the old establishment world, a hidden gem of bountiful resources to be shared by so few. Was population 21 million when we left, small than the population of LAX and now I think it’s over 25 million perhaps? 

Should get a shut eye, last night woke up every. Single. Hour. Feared the alarm may not go off. So puffy eyes from lack of sleep. Want to tell her to wake me up for congee. The hand lotion is non greasy and pleasantly fragrant. Not too overpowering. 

4:16 pm Sydney time. Had a power nap and woke up some minutes ago. Very thirsty and should have been drinking more water. Was exploring the Cities of the world they must fly to, as seen in the Flight Tracking App on the inflight entertainment screen. 

Going to explore movies and settled on Gems of China category. 5:40 hours more to go. Going to watch The Dumpling Queen. 

6:41 pm. Finished watching The Dumpling Queen. It was based on a true story, and I was reminded of Mummy’s life. Not easy with a loser husband. Losers pile lies upon lies to save face while the women carry on carrying on and keep the fires burning. 

3:20 hours more to go. We’re flying past Iligan City. Sounds like a Philippine name, not sure. The other end of the island was Davao City. To the West I presume, as it’s to the left of the map, is Cotabato City. To the far left is Zamboanga. We’re between the Sulu Sea and the Celebes Sea. Never knew these places existed. What a vastly magical world. Such unusual names. Our souls can choose to be born anywhere. I think it might be Indonesia 🇮🇩 as such a scattered place, clusters of islands spread out in the ocean.

Right at the far top left edge of the sphere, which is our beautiful world, I see New Delhi. Mummy’s Karam Bhoomi. At the top right of center is Tokyo. Below is Port Moresby with the tip of Australia visible. Hong Kong, Beijing and the Russian cities up top. Wonder where Mummy chose to born again, very far from me I’m sure. I wasn’t a good daughter and let her down. Let them all down. BA, and JM and all those who looked up and at me for support. Loved, cherished and nurtured me. Hope and trust wherever she is now, she is happy, loved, appreciated and cherished. 

Did not connect to the internet, may do so. They want the seat number and last four digits of our travel document, so will have to retrieve it from the overhead bin. Or else will post from PVG upon landing. 

On the way in had barely enough time in Seoul as inclement weather across Europe had delayed our flight, among many others delayed and several cancelled altogether. 

3:11 hours to go. Ate Chinese snacks and feel like hot tea. The map spun around and zoomed back to Australia 🇦🇺 highlighting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Possibly cities this carrier flies to. We’re going over the Sulu Sea. Must go home and see where that is! How little we’ve seen of this part of the world. Far Southeast Asia. Kota Kinabalu beneath us, though I see only the blue of the waters. A small island or large island in the middle of the sea? 

Iloilo City and Bacolod showing up as the map zooms in and out! Now all the major cities in China. 🇨🇳 

Cotabato City. Taibei! Possibly Taipei, just as I thought of Taiwan. Remember visiting Kaoshung and Keelung ports so many years ago. Walking on the streets in a bright pink saree and cars slowing down to gawk at me and smile. Same bright pink saree in line at Disneyland in Long Beach and a Caucasian child touching my saree and asking me, “Are you a fairy?” 

In Long Beach being approached by a very young lad and he asked, “Can you spare me a nickel?” So that’s how people beg in America I had then thought. 

Connected to the internet and at 38002 feet high. Maybe this will be a new first! Posting from the skies flying over approach approach to Lipa, and Lucena to the right. Flight path goes directly over Manila! Flight MU562 with 2:39 hours to arrive Shanghai from Sydney. 

Veenu Banga

November 16, 2025

7:29 pm Sydney time 

Couldn’t open the blog website so unable to post. Sent a message to Dr Jean as I had been thinking about her. 

1:36 hours to go. They had the second meal service. Took orange juice and water. Wish they had pineapple juice. 

The Timeshifter App is asking me to take two hour nap. Did not follow through with much of it on this trip. A had told Kevin about it as well, and I believe he was following it. Thanks to Abel for telling us about it. 

Had an awesome last night in Sydney at Abel’s! Dinner and conversation. 

“There’s a kind of hush…

 ..All over the world tonight, all over the world. You can hear the sound of lovers falling in love..” sang Karen Carpenter. Oh, how we all loved The Carpenters in the days of my youth! 

But this is not the hush I had in mind, when I started to write this, the words of this song just came on as my Autonomic Nervous System just kicked in.  

The Hush I had in mind, was the hush of my surroundings on the drive home last evening from Waitrose in Daventry. The sun sets around 3:52 pm, so dusk falls around 3:30pm. The trees stood bare and their skeletal canopies against a grey sky devoid of clouds had a certain restfulness about the whole landscape. Yet so deceptive, not a cloud to be seen because it was overcast with a tightly melded cloudscape that asserted an early close to the day. I did not know if the trees were resting or they were cold. All I knew was that they were very brave. 

And my heart aches for them, I don’t know why. It’s not as if they grow old and die, they resurrect every spring. Is that the message for us humans? About resurrection, rebuilding and regeneration? About..what exactly? I’m sure there’s the science, but then what about our emotional and genetic connectivity with everything in the Universe? They’re a part of us and we both are of the Earth, and also of the stars and the wind and the rivers and the oceans and the clouds and the mountains the cloud breeze through? 

I very much wonder why God forgot to create a plan where these dear beloved trees could be naturally ‘clothed’ in some kind of blanket that Mother Nature would weave around them in winter, at least just for the coldest nights and days of the season. 

Came home and wrote a long soliloquy about them in my paper journal notebook. What had triggered the empathic outpouring was the sight of nests starkly visible, the twigs firmly holding together in the leafless dry branches high up on the trees. These must have been the childhood homes of someone, I had thought, thinking of the baby birds. This was the trigger thought. Someone’s childhood homes, these nests. Do they, the baby birds raised herein, come back with their partners or their babies and show them where their childhood stomping grounds were? 

Perhaps one of these nests was built by a bird raised in and around this area, perhaps even on the tree next ‘door?’ My other thought was as parents, when we become parents, something kicks in and the responsibility teaches the bird parents to build architecturally robust dwellings for one’s off spring. So robust that in the middle of winter, they still stand strong, surviving the summer rain and autumn and winter winds. Come spring, and the circle of breeding and new life stars again in the avian world. 

Not us humans though, seldom do we follow the laws of Nature, especially not in this century. I think that’s why the routine of the seasons has not changed. God knew we would eat the forbidden apple, and lose our senses, so the make-up of winter is such that the needful is achieved by design. 

Anyway, I wrote all about the story of the birds and the tres and the uncanny connections we do not think about as zombie like we traverse through this life. There is certainly something about the winter that invites us to retreat, so I do see the point of it. Also, winter is the bait for the Aurora, which likes cold and dark wintery nights, in the extreme latitudes. 

The Aurora have so far eluded me, as we have chased after them in the Shetlands and in Sweden, they have played catch (a glimpse of) me if you can and won against me every time. Knowing how much I’ve longed to be with them, in awe and praise. We’ve driven through the forests to climb up a hill in the dead of night near Ronninge, around Aberdeen (where they showed up soon after we sailed for the Shetlands) and all over the Shetlands and they’ve managed to elude us with the help of rain, wind and cloud cover. Strategic alliances. 

Three weeks in Sweden and not much luck- except once from the windows of our Airbnb high on a cliff, I could see them through the camera. Ditto in Shetland. 

Well, so be it for now, but some day..perhaps next year. Meanwhile, I’m embracing the quiet time of hibernation, below ground for the bulbous flowers, the alliums and the potatoes and above ground for the bears and whatever else takes the time off to replenish their reserves, or just rest while God’s plan and Nature’s Will work in harmony to prepare us when they present the bounties that Spring ushers in and Summer squanders for our benefit. 

I’m thinking of the apple trees, pear trees, blackberry brambles, flowers and long days of glorious sunshine and gluttonous pleasures. I think I’m not in a rush, not at all. Winter, thank you for your long nights of cosy rest, thank you for the opportunity for reflection, and for the internal resonance that can be orchestrated only by the Divine’s imposition of external forces perfectly placed to ensure the world is ready to participate in and partake of the bounty that awaits. 

With the Solstice, the countdown has just begun. And happily, I surrender to thee my Lord, my masters, my Samanijis and my teachers and celebrate in gratitude those that came before me and those who are with me as I have traversed far and found home wherever this world has embraced me. Thank you, Universe.

Veenu Banga

December 22, 2025

10:55 pm

And I cried too, with them..

 Around at 8:00 minutes into the show: https://youtu.be/6fcdMg-NrcA?si=9PcV9FEWSs4Ue3N9 and more damning was part two: https://youtu.be/CPlaJxLJDwE?si=dPtkFRKZoqUkNm0a which was truly very shocking in the latter part. Classic Daddy. Could understand my father better, and some other people. Folks that have the irrepressible urge to harm, to cut down their perceived opposition, be it their own child. Just to spite their partner- to hit below the belt, they will use anything, even their own flesh and blood. As the saying goes, to cut one’s nose to spite one’s face. For them, it’s just collateral damage. The stuff of life. Seriously. I don’t think this man deserves any more attention from me. Flawed human being, and no, not the perfect artist- because he decapitated (strong word, but yes, that’s what these @%& do!) the competition. Flawed psyche. As I feel about, well…he’s either really very sick, or he’s truly evil. Perhaps both. 

On another bizarre, but not really- note. Early this morning, woke up much rested, as had not slept, literally for four straight nights- and had been crying with pain. So thought, that’s a nice heading for a blog. And mentally, wrote out the blog’s title, “Today I cried…” and then was going to continue, with relief, after four days of crying with a terrible toothache, that obliterated my ability to function normally. Had to cancel my flight as was in terrible pain, and change that ticket to a later date, and buy a new ticket to go back. An emergency dental visit and regulate dentist visit later, begged for antibiotics, which is the second time for me this year. With all the very highs and some very lows, life has a beautiful way of balancing out. 

So bizarre I had said? And while not bizarre, it’s prophetic how some words we utter come to pass. So yes, today I really cried, watching this video about a woman who very much intrigues me. Tomorrow, I will be happy, as I am now, having spent time with Greg Braden; and will say to myself. Today is a good day, it’s the first day of the rest of my life! 

Veenu Banga

December 10, 2025

9:13 pm.