Paint it Yellow!

Im not very patriotic. In fact Im not patriotic at all. That is fair to say. As much as I hate making these posts entirely personal, the above is best explained if we get a tad below the skin - so to speak.

So far as I understand it, patriotism stems from a love of one's nation. The emotion buried within [some] people that propels them to want to do something for one's country, for the land that you live in and that is essentially what classifies you as a certain...[type?] of person.

I was born in Australia. Ive lived here for almost 23 years now. That equals to half a lifetime provided I die at about 46. That must be the average life expectancy in some country somewhere, Im sure.

My mothers of Indian descent and we speak Hindi and a hybrid language I refer to as Hinglish. Combination of Hindi nouns and English verbs. Yes, interesting language that is. Other than that Ive taken a strong liking of sanskrit since I was younger, there's something about the way the words flow and sound so incredibly noble as the word rolls of your tongue. Difficult to explain until you've understood the nounce of each word. Regardless, we're talking patriotism now.

Paint it Yellow! [The exclamation is required] Or Rang De Basanti, is a film about five kids at Delhi University who realise the true meaning of patriotism when a British journalist comes into their carefree existence.

To begin with, there are several complications to this story from the onset, apart from my overthinking nature, it seemed to me the second time that I saw this, that it was a tad distasteful to have a Britisher have to remind Indians [the same lot who were ruled by them] of their heritage and the sacrifice many made for a free India.

Particularly as the freedom fighters our British Sue is interested in are Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad etc, who were all fighting for freedom from the British Raj. The third time I saw this film, I rethought this point of view. Since then, Ive come to realise that it doesn't so much matter who causes the realisation to occur to so much as that the realisation actually occurs. 

My second bone of contention with the film is that the conclusion of the protagonists and the film: the death of them seems to be sending out the wrong message. Sure, they go from a 'who-gives-a-damn' attitude to, 'no-nation-is-perfect, each of us has to help make it so' with an incredibly convincing ride, and there is absolutely no preaching, or no one, myself included could have sat through it. However the fact that they die post changing their attitudes and focus, to me seemed a collosal waste. 

I wish they had lived. In retrospect I can see why they choose to kill off the main characters. With their death you see just how foggy the law enforcement system can be sometimes. Through their death, thousands of students and youth receieve a strong message [in the film and outside] that for a society or nation to change, the people, their mindsets must first demonstrate change. But still, I wish they had lived.

Im still not patriotic. Im not sure where my allegiance lies in all honesty. I love the atmosphere of Australia, sure. I appreciate the fact that we have so much freedom, that I as an Australian citizen have so many freedoms that people in other nations don't. I can be grateful for everything I recieve in this country: education, a degree of equality and many human rights. I love that because of my mum I'll always have ties to a place like India, where the culture is so seeped within tradition and ritual that I couldn't escape it if I tried. Im glad that because of this hybridity [technical term] I'll always be different, not quite part of one, but never entirely the other.

But it also means I come with this sense of non-belonging. I don't fit into either culture entirely. Not just me, but so many people from my generation will find themselves in similar predicaments. We won't ever belong to just one nation, one place or one ethnicity. Which is perhaps what our world needs. More universality, more internationality. 

Anywho. My opinion, Paint It Yellow is awesome. There's something of every college kid in those characters. The aimlessness, ambiguity we all carry. Not always knowing where your going, but getting to tomorrow is the aim. Rushing towards deadlines with uncompleted work and extending the prolonged doom. And then, suddenly, there's a boom! A Crash! Someone, something comes along and makes you think.

Back to the Future

I love going away, the further away, the better. Being a part of the Christmas cheer isn't my thing. I hate being at home during the long holiday period. Christmas' at my place are lucklustre, material and largely spent in front of the television.

Then I discovered going away! And it was all bright colours and ice cream from there on.

Last year I got to go away for seven weeks courtesy of mum and my step father - they paid for everything. Flights, awesome hotels and fantastic tours and treks. This year, when Im organising my own trip, oh boy, Totally appreciating the work and effort put into last years!

Agent152 aka Kritan is heading out with me: my very own travel buddy. I can't think of anyone I'd rather be doing this with. She is incredibly easy to get along with, one of my more humorous friends and above all someone I trust entirely with choosing anything.

We spent a solid few hours tonight on the phone and internet simultaneously attempting to organise our hotel for Xmas eve, Xmas day and Boxing day. All three of which, we decided a while back would be spent in a lavish hotel with a major splurge on our parts. Haha, note, this is so much easier voiced than it is demonstrated.

We've come to the conclusion - after weeks of searching and inquiring - that 5*s are out of our range. So settling for 4*s we've been on a hunt to find one that is classic, by which we mean, reminds us of Hogwarts. Decked out with fireplaces, christmas trees and a strong dose of traditional British Christmas cheer.

It isn't Christmas season in my opinion, till its been witnessed in London.

Seeing as we've left it late..*honours thesis rears its head again* what we are finding is the places we like and can afford, are booked out to a large extent GRRR. Then there are the places where we would like to go but the only rooms left are too expensive, in a turn of irony we found places we could afford and liked only to find they are available only from Boxing day onwards. Oh dear, indeed.

However, we can be glad that we have found lovely hotels in Cardiff and for the rest of our approximatley two week stay in London. The London Vicarage [who have rung me twice today] shall be subjected, I mean given the pleasure of our company, for the initial and last few weeks/ days of our stay.

Edinburgh was like a sore foot with multiple blisters combining themselves gradually across the base of one's sole. My inbox is brimming with twelve 'sorry we are booked out for the period you have requested' letters. One lovely Scottish accented boy rang to apologise verbally! Mum answered and raised a brow before saying, 'Scottish sounding man on the phone, can't decipher what he wants, presumably you?' I wish!

The epic phone conversation of tonight deduced, an agreement upon Aonach Mor Guest House and they have space for us!! Hogmenay, Concert in the Covent gardens and street party here we come! We have 6 days and 5 nights in Edinburgh which, between us have been filled to their capacity: Beauty and the Beast at the theatre, storyteller tours, pub crawls and copious amounts of activities I can't remember - though cycling through Edinburgh is a must!

Onto Cardiff we go, where Lincoln House shall host us. There are three beautiful, and different castles I wish to see here - and given Kris likes castles we shall be doing all three. There is a Dr Who exhibition in Glasgow which sounds interesting.. we've said if time permits we'll go across to Glasgow and see if we can catch this. Other than that there are quite a few Welsh landmarks to see along with bookstores, cafes, bars and clubs that sound like a good time to come =-)

That is all for now on the holiday.. no doubt, many more posts will follow on these events. And no, I haven't forgotten the pooja and its leadup, there shall perhaps be an update on that..aspect? some time soon. Till then, I highly recommend Jennifer Rardin's Once Bitten Twice Shy, for anyone wanting a female detective novel with a little bite and some magic.

Today's Muddle: where will we be staying across the Christmas holiday days?

Mon&Me: 10 Men from the silver screen that deserve worshipping.

10. Patrick Verona - 10 Things I Hate About You

 We love the chracter, Mon's not a Ledge fan - I dont mind him as an actor but in this film- OH boy Oh Boy! Bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks who hates the world but ends up falling hopelessy in love. How can you not love that? In Mon's opinion he looks the best when he has his hair tied back in the paint balloon scene. Doesnt give a crap bout how weird ppl think he is, he just rolls with it, that alone is so damn hot. My favs the serenade attempt on the steps - re pic. *Swoon*

9. Troy - Reality Bites

Grungy, unkept, sarcastic, intelligent, smart ass and pissed off at nothing in particlar, need i say more? Oh he has long hair. Reality does more than bite, it makes us just a little more light headed.

8. Guy Patterson - That Thing You Do

We've always had a thing for drummers lol. He's goofy, sweet and genuine and Im entirely with Mon when she expresses the desire to hug him forever! My fav part is the end when, him and Liv Tyler are at the cafe and u know they want eachother but neither say anything, she leaves then he chases after her and finally the 'big kiss' moment that every movie needs. He's so cute in this film. Sadly, this was the first and last film that he was oh, so adorable in.. it all went down hill from here on..

7. Sebastian Valmont - Cruel Intentions

He's mean, sexy and absolutely incorrigible. The bad boy who turns sweet when the right girl comes along, does this not reinstate your inner girly-girl who knows she can reform the hunky bad boy? Right on it does!

6. James Wright - That Thing Called Love

He's on Mon's list by default =p He sings, he broods and he's just damn hot. This is the only movie where he had dark hair, and its long hehehe, just adds to the whole fantasy. The first kiss scene is so hot, but he looks the best in the scene where he's just gotten out of the shower and he storms into the kitchen ( i hate to say but he is fully dressed) hair all wet and his shirt buttoned only half way, gets me everytime. He's high in almost every scene but its his last completed film so it had to make the cut lol.

Adding my 10c - I feel this picture says it all, loud and clear.

5. Jack Dawson - Titanic

Leo's on purely because most girls who grew up in the 90s [us included] wanted, required a Titanic poster to breathe at some point or another in their lives. We can admit it.. with a cringe on my part. We refer to this as part of the blonde boy phase.. c'mon, you went through it too!

4.Rick O'Connell / David Green - The Mummy + School Ties

I don't know what I'd do without Mon to share my movie loves with. We unanimously agree that Brendan Fraser was beyong beautiful and brilliant in both these movies. Drawback? He has short hair in School Ties and the whole ending up with Rachel Weisz kinda ruined it for me in the Mummy.. but he's just so damn hot. Whether in a trench coat or a 1920s hunter *swoon* outfit.. he does it for us!

3. Chase Hammond - Drive Me Crazy

So strange to think that when Mon first watched this at 14 she thought he was eww, and now she wants to bloody kick herself, what the hell was she thinking? He's bloody gorgeous in this movie, like omg. Grungy, loner (Kind of), rebel, shit stirer, sarcastic, generally not giving a shit bout anything and dark haired. 

Why cant every girl have a boy next door like him? I prefer him 'pre make-over' but he's still hot when he's in a clean shirt lol. Oh man i love when he appears at the prom at the end. That slide, that glide and the oh not so subtle 'I was hoping to cut in.' There is no man hotter that Chase for me [yours truly].. but to get to ten, we continue.

2.  Jack Tavern - Speed 

Aside from the fact that he wears a tight, white wife beater throughout the whole film, he's one guy i prefer with short hair. He's so rugged and ripped in this movie (have a look at those arms would u) that it makes u melt and silently curse Sandra Bullock. Oh and the best part...when he ends up all dirty and sweaty by the end with big tears in his shirt... Oh Lord, Have Mercy! This is entirely Mon's description, but I agree absolutely, not only that I totally appreciate the man in the Matrix, so extra brownie points from me!

1. Don Juan / Edward Scissorhands 

In the movies with the same name, Johnny Depp rocks us all over and repeat! God must have been in a very good mood when he made this man. Best part of all, he has long hair in it. Im sure u understand the whole Johnny Depp thing anyway, so no need to go on.. We rest our case and head off to watch one of the said hunks [we mean, movies] *breathe in, breathe out*

Boardgames, Bananas and Binks'.

Just a quick update on the festivities of tonight. Binks is an Amazing chef. Her steak and potatoe bake were absolutely mind-blowing. The entrees [yes! she treated us to a three course homemade meal!] were scrumptious garlic and butter slices with an accompaniment of prawns in a delicious sauce. Hmmm.

I dont think Ive laughed this much since the last time the four of us, Binks, Em and Gus [plus yours truly] were in front of a board game together. Tonight, being hosted by the brilliant Binks saw a Wii being implemented. Trivial Pursuit was belly rockingly funny! Gus insists I cheat - by shouting out the wrong answers which, when played see the contestant lose a turn. I maintain that everytime I got the answer right they chose to not follow me - whereas when I was wrong or kidding they would decide to extend the borders of the circle of trust for me.

Needless to say, the end of the evening saw me at the outer corners of the circle of trust. Hehe, ah well. All is fair in boardgames and battles.

Em surprised everyone [including herself] as to how clever she actually is! Her wedge grew at lightening speeds - alrite, so we all helped a little. But it was definitely 90% her. Binks, Lady Band Six that she is capable of challenging gave her a good run in the middle of the game, and at the end there wasnt too much of a point difference.

I brought up the rear with Gus falling into fourth place.. which isnt bad considering Binks and I were being our usual disruptive selves for most of the playing.

All in all, viennetta dessert capped off what was a brilliant evening going bananas.

*Note to self: spend much more quality time at Binks'*

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

November begins in, oh, twenty minutes or so. If All Hallow's Eve merits a post, then most certainly the month of November does.

Its always been my favourite month of the year. Not quite the end, almost near January. Some months away from my birthday, and so the resolutions Ive concocted. Yet, some months away from my birthday again, so Ive time to find excuses, find time and perhaps, even find a resolve for the resolute decisions made.

November shall witness a number of things.. first the beginning of NaNoWriMo. A month long novel writing challenge. Binks is partaking in this, as is the lovely Abbi. It shall be interesting to see what each person creates.

Ive come up with an idea. Well, two actually. One would follow Alice. It promises to be serious and lofty and vague. Hmm. The second is about a timetraveller. Well two actually and it seems that the story will grow and grow and grow.. kind of like James' giant peach. Im not sure how it will end or where it will go, but I think this might be the one I go onto write. Hmm. We'll see in a few hours when the challenge is officially taken on.

November shall see the farewell of various friends as they leave on trips overseas or interstate. Before long agent152 and I shall be leaving too. Ecstatic! There are still hotels and trains to be booked. This shall follow this week.

I have a whole list of friends to meet up with through November, atleast once. Making a conscious effort to be more energetic too. Xypher has been neglected.

The Dotters! My favourite siblings have been all but MIA lately, and the remedy for this shall begin Monday. Tomorrow, the 1st of November sees a dinner at the lovely Binks' residence. Boardgame fun shall ensue and ofcourse the mirth that we create - amid chaos- each time Binks, 56 and 99 collide.

It is a collision. Three extraordinary personalities in one room is cause for firework level glee. Add the glory of Gus to this and we have a group fit to take over the better half of the world. Not that planning has commenced or any such..

See. November brings the promise of friends, fraternising, flowers, freshness and freedom from future fuss.

The, the fish in the bowl, in The Cat in the Hat. He was always saying that the cat shouldn't be there while the mother was out.