Friends Forever

I am lucky to have GREAT friends.

In school  I had a lot of friends but I am not in touch with most of them as I do not visit the place that I was in school.

In college we were a group of 5 friends who were close and enjoyed our college days by bunking and going to movies and sometimes going on a picnic with the permission of parents,

I had lost contact with all of them, Met one on my wedding day when I went to the beauty salon to get my make up and hair done and in a hurry did not really exchange any phone numbers.

Some years ago on a Sunday I happened to talk to all four of them and we meet sometimes as and when time permits,though we speak on the phone on birthdays and keep in touch otherwise too.

When I went to Bombay Hospital I met some girls who I became friends with and am still very close to. Even though it is more than 30 years since I first met them, we have been there to support one another in any way required.

Two of the friends are now settled in Auckland, New Zealand and my husband and I visited them for 3 weeks about 3 years ago. We really enjoyed the holiday and it was one of the best holidays that we had. We exchange gifts and know each persons likes and dislikes.

I have been going to The Home for the Aged for nearly 13 years as a volunteer and there too I was lucky to meet some nice people who I am friends with.

I love my friends and hope and pray that everyone has somebody to be there for them in times of need. I have not mentioned any names but you know who you are when you read this blog post.

May all of you be blessed always.

Love you all,

Sheila

I Love Elephants

Magali & the Elephants in Yangon Zoo, Myanmar (1994).

Elephants to me are huge, sweet and gentle animals.

Here in Mumbai we used to see them on the road along with their mahouts who used them to beg for money and food. Normally they do not harm anybody but there are some instances where they have gone on a rampage and killed people (mostly due to ill treatment) Now they are banned on the roads in Mumbai but can be seen on the outskirts of the city.

Since Magali was just one year old we had been regularly taking her to the zoo in different countries.

Here in Mumbai we are not allowed to feed the animals but I remember when we visited the zoo in Yangon, Myanmar we had to pay a certain amount of money and we were given a small plastic basket filled with sugar cane. Magali and I enjoyed feeding the elephants.

About five years ago the whole family went on a holiday to Bangkok where there are a lot of elephants at the zoo and different places we visited during our stay. Magali even sat on an elephant for a fee where the trainer was taking the elephant around the area for the ride. There too we could feed a lot of elephants with sugar cane and they would nicely take it from your hand.

Magali (above) & me in Safari World, Bangkok (2009).

Poachers should leave the elephants alone who they kill for the ivory. Ivory is banned in India and many other countries so I hope the elephants can live a longer life now.

Love to all,

Sheila

This post has been written as part of ABC Wednesday.

My Daughter, My Blessing!

I remember the day very clearly when it was confirmed that I was pregnant. I  had never thought about the gender of the child and was just hoping that I have a normal delivery and a normal child.

Magali with me, aged 2 months old.

My husband being in the Merchant Navy joined a ship when I was 3 months pregnant and promised me that he would be home on time for the delivery.

But our daughter had different plans. About 2 weeks before my due date she decided that she wanted to see the world and so on 9th of April around 8.40 pm  after a long and painful labour she came into this world.

I say daughters are a blessing because they share everything with you. Your joys, sorrows, pain and sickness.

Magali last month, aged 22!

When I am not well she is beside me all the while trying to make me comfortable.When she is out of the house she calls me often just to say "Hi". I have taken care of her all by myself even when my husband has been away on the ship and with no full time help but I always enjoyed our time together.Even on holidays we enjoy just roaming around new places, sight seeing and shopping.

I love you Magali and hope and pray that you are blessed with good health and all the happiness in this world.

Take care,

Sheila

This post has been written as part of ABC Wednesday.