Grateful on 12/14/202

 Today is my father’s birthday. I am grateful that he was born, and was healthy for all the years of his life. I am grateful for him, and that he was instrumental in giving me life. 

Grateful too today, for sampling great local produce, and amongst other things, enjoying deliciously simple stir fried spinach, which I made with just some garlic, butter and olive oil. That’s all. Thankful also for enjoying the outdoors, and being with loved ones. Grateful for remembering today my prayers, and grateful that I was taught to pray. 

Today, I am also grateful for hearing from someone I love very much. Grateful that I have so many people to love, and think of you. Grateful to know that it is love, because I want to share the beauty with them, knowing they will like it. 

Grateful for the kindness of strangers, not one, not two, not three, not four, but at least five! Grateful that I know to remember them in my prayers. 

Grateful that I no longer hold a grudge or feel disgust and hurt, at the inconsideration and unkindness of people, and that I move on and forgive them, because it’s all they know and it’s where they are in their journey. 

Grateful for life’s so many serendipities, that looking back at the , I truly feel God is watching out for us. 

Grateful that I have finally acknowledged that my writing gives joy to some people. Grateful for having the courage to be able to write with more honesty. Grateful that there are fewer pieces sitting in the drafts and I am able to share more. 

Praying things get back to normal in the world. Grateful for having been given the abilities to tide over the past year. 

Grateful for childhood friends who I will be seeing very soon!

Veenu Banga

12/14/21

11:12 pm.

The unintentional bias

We are all guilty of it at some time or another, and some more guilty than the rest of us. In this instance, I am more guilty, I suppose. This article explains my bias against sitar: https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/notes-from-behind-a-locked-door/ and this is not the only article I read about this state of affairs. The NYT had a very lengthy story as well. 

Oh well! 

Grateful for a glorious day!

 Glorious and Full! Good breakfast, almost amounting to Brunch, in good company, meeting great people, learning new things, feeding mind and body and nourishing soul. Thank you God!

Meeting old friends, blessed to be complimented for something that one takes for granted, and is a blessing really to oneself. Gifts of love and gratitude for that too. Walking the streets finding quirky buildings and signs in a Pun filled City. How’s Kilt and Kocktails, Steak, cattle and roll, too many to remember..and photos of others. Great street art, chasing the elusive Banky which eluded us after all. Maybe Bristol is where to find him.

Good midday snack at M&S Food Hall, Emmental cheese and mushroom toastie, coffee cake and a pot of tea, and then coming out into an aggressive drizzle. Lots more amazing buildings, the kind you stand and stare at, more street art, and the Hard Rock for the city’s lapel pin. Back to the Grosvenor to put one’s feet up. Dinner at Balbir’s which was great. 

All in all, a great day with the Grace of God. Plus a nod of approval for a literary piece, from my someone special. And that should be a wrap up of a completely full day. Except it was so much more. 

Between the midnight edging closer and sounding me a reminder that a body longing for rest and the circadian rhythms et all, one must surrender to all that bigger than us. On that note, a thank you and gratitude for more that I may have forgotten, a good night to all!

Veenu Banga

December 12th, 2021

11:34 pm.

The Highs of Horizons.

I find nothing more fascinating, or exhilarating than the sight of wide open horizons. I say horizons, because it changes every minute in the twists and turns of the drive. The horizons that encircle you, or almost, are the ones that keep my focus darting around, so as to not miss a thing. 

In the winter, when days are short, a long distance drive, can easily last into the sunset and beyond. Further more, there’s often no sunsets,  because, and especially in UK and Europe, it’s frequently overcast and raining. 

In the approaching darkness of dusk, a horizon adds a whole new dimension. You can see the ‘glow’ of a town or a city, and feel the anticipation of your approach. On ships, it’s this glow is the first sign of nearing port, and the sailors get excited by the prospect of going offshore. 

Today, while driving up north, I saw a glow to the east, very bright, and almost like a sunrise. However, it was getting darker and I knew better. It was probably the light pollution from the lights of an area a which is playing host to either a game or perhaps a concert. 

Very thankful and feel deep gratitude, to have the ability to appreciate these vagaries of Nature. Grateful life brings these opportunities my way. Nothing more dynamic than nature. This coitus of sky and earth, of sea and sky, of mountains and clouds, all produces all the different glories and Nature’s bounties that are created as gifts to humans, born of the perfect synchrony when Nature procreates. 

What riches are these, what an abundance of spoils that are ours for the asking, or just taking, free. The sights, the shapes. The bonsai olive tree that I saw today in a huge pot, just sitting idly outside a chippy shop. 

Well, I’m going to stop as I don’t want to miss the midnight deadline. Grateful also for awesome tapas style Indian dinner. It was delicious. What better note than a happy belly, to call it a day and say goodnight!

Veenu Bangs

December 11, 2021

11:58 pm. 

Grateful for a nice sunny day on 12/10/2021

Today I am grateful that the work week decided to end on a sunny note. It was a glorious sunny day, and despite a on again, off again wind, one could still enjoy a walk. I’m grateful for thermal wear that makes life easier on colder days.

Today, I’m also grateful that I went downtown, and we saw the Christmas lights everywhere. 

Still enjoying the goodies from India. Grateful for that. 

Very grateful for the long chat I had with Susan who is such a blessing in my life. Very grateful for Susan, she’s my sunshine who I can count on everyday of the week. May God bless her and all her family who she loves so dearly. Thank you God for Susan.

Grateful for BBC programming. They have a healthy amount of programming on India. Grateful I can be grateful. 

Grateful for the clear skies tonight, the moon is exactly a half full and the stars were clearly visible in the shy. They can even be seen in photographs. Grateful I’ve still got this going every day. 

It’s edging close to midnight and I don’t want my blog post carriage to turn into a pumpkin! So on that note, I hope everyone has lots to be grateful for.

Veenu Banga

December 10, 2021

11:56 pm.

12/09/2021 grateful for small unexpected joys!

Unexpected finds can be quite a source of delight and generate a fleeting but pleasurable excitement. In dryer weather, it can mean a good hand lotion. This is what I discovered. Great on the hands. Nice very gentle fragrance. I liked it so much, I wanted to get one for Susan. Then I saw the ingredient list. Not quite perfect- but. I will leave it at the but. 

https://www.moltonbrown.co.uk/store/journal/fragrance/heavenly-gingerlily

I guess I could say I am grateful for hand lotion with this fragrance. 

I’m grateful for the sarson ka saag that I had at dinner. It was yummy. I’m grateful for all the goodies that arrived from India. I’m grateful for this blog, where I can express my gratitude for things. It certainly is working.

My nuns say, purge, let it go, count your blessings, etc. Counting blessings certainly works. I am going to leave it at that today. The comfortable bed that I’m grateful for calls, and I must go keep my date with the dreams that are sure to delight. 

I hope they’re worth remembering and writing down in my journal. I love surprises in my dreams, and I am grateful for that!

Veenu Banga

12/09/2!

10:58 pm.

Grateful for the little towns and villages 12/08/2021

Vast open skies touching wide green fields on an expansive horizon. Just being present in this vividly diverse universe, where no one place is like another, is a joy to be thankful for.  

Scenic spots that mark the countryside, like a perfectly painted scene of the quiet life in places and spaces. Of farmhouses, pubs, churches with tall spires, schoolhouses, barber shops, and sundry other stuff. Newsagents, corner stores, and now even kebab stalls, some which offer ‘kadak chai’ on their menu. This is not India. The world has changed. In and around Reading, a college town, with charm that youth exudes. 

Pie Dinner at Sweeney and Todd. A series of B roads, followed by narrowing farm roads bring you to Tylney Hall. One of many road trips to be thankful for. Memories are made of evenings like this. The kind we reminisce about when something familiar comes up, or another trip is being planned. 

Grateful that the world is slowly opening up, just in time for the holidays and families are getting together to celebrate. 

Thankful for the nice day today with sun out. Thankful for the samosas, paneer pakoras, saag and methi roti- Sweet Memories. 

Thankful for good dentists, and grateful to find parking.

Thankful for thermal wear on cold and windy days.

Thankful for water comfortable proof boots, which reminded me of Ecuador. Thankful for the memories of Ecuador. 

Thankful for a comfortable bed to sleep on.

Thankful to find so much to be thankful for. Thankful the thankfulness takes away from that which is not pleasant to remember.

Thankful for comfortable walking shoes.

Thankful for looking forward to going to the temple cafeteria.

Thankful for being able to hope I can go for Gurudwara langar. 

Thankful that so many do Seva and inspire others. I should too.

Thankful that when I look into the mirror, I see a friend. 

Thankful for being able to be thankful. Grateful I can be thankful.

Veenu Banga

12/08/2021

11:10pm.