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I do not own a camera. When something arrests my attention, I use my iPhone to capture such expressions.
Friday, 31st March 2017
After my chest and triceps workout at my gym. The Ritz Carlton.
Monday, 13th March 2017
Right from my childhood
I have had a fascination of beautiful bookends. Over the years I have collected everything from René Lalique to Lladró and
then one day while rambling through the streets of London, I came across these
gorgeous bookends made by Hummel in an old antique store.
A boy with bunnies and
a girl with chicks is what the description said in the Hummel certificate of
authenticity. Each piece used to be made by hand and painted ever so lovingly. The
colours are charmingly vibrant and lend such life to my bedroom where I have
kept them over a solid rosewood bookcase that belonged to my maternal grandfather.
Hummel figurines (also known as M.I. Hummel figurines or simply Hummels)
are a series of porcelain figurines based on the drawings of Sister Maria
Innocentia Hummel, O.S.F.
Saturday, 15th October 2016
Today was my brother Imran's birthday. I thanked our creator to have given me a brother like him. He is the epitome of love, and the icon of unflinching brotherhood and I am thankful, and grateful, and whatever else it takes, because sometimes being a brother is better than being a superhero, and that is exactly what my brother is to me. Love you to the moon and back my Immmmmuuuu.
Tuesday, 11th October 2016
The biting heat was under control with the showers. I was reading the newspaper when my eyes fell on the table next to me. How strange really that we see the same thing daily and yet never see its beauty until it be shot via the lens of our camera. I guess one ought to train the mind's eyes like the aperture of the camera to enjoy everything around us.
So shot that in our reading room at home. The furniture is over two hundred years old. The drapes are from England. The cushion covers are handwoven tapestry from Belgium. Each one takes close to two months to weave. The eighteenth century hand-enamelled-mouth-blown vase is from Prague. The green candle votives are Italian from the 1970's. The tatting mat was woven affectionately by my mother. Nearly everything at home from the embroidery on the walls to the cushions covers around home, the centre table doilies to the pillow cases we sleep on are hand embroidered by my mother. Being surrounded by beauty lends grace to our character.
Sunday, 9th October 2016
Was on the way out of home this afternoon when those flowers caught my attention in the garden. Took a quick photograph and left to realise that it was worthy of a share.
Friday, 12th August 2016
Cherub best describes a winged angelic being in biblical tradition as
attending on God. In art it is depicted as a chubby, healthy-looking beautiful
child with wings.
I found this charming pair of Cherub
Cornucopia Candlesticks, hand made in Ílhavo, Portugal
by porcelain maker Vista Alegre created in the year 1824. By the feet of
the cherubs is a basket full of grapes. They are both 8 inches in height. A
large band of pure gold gilds the base of each of them.
Such rare pieces in porcelain are greatly coveted by collectors globally.
If you chance upon spotting a pair on your travels, check to see if they are
free of any cracks or chips, and if the artistry appeals to your senses, simply
do yourself a favour by adding them to your collection.
Monday, 8th August 2016
Day 1 - Chest. Shoulders. Triceps
Flat DB Press + Incline DB Fly 3 x 12, 10, 8
Push Ups Until Failure + Flat DB Fly 3 x 12, 10, 8
Push Ups With Hands On The Bench Until Failure x 3
BD Lateral Raise While Leaning To A Side 3 x 12, 10, 8
Rope Cable Front Raise 3 x 12, 10, 8
Rope Push Down 3 x 12, 10, 8
Donkey Press 3 x 12, 10, 8
Reverse Pushdown 3 x 12, 10, 8
Bench Dips With Feet Up And Plate 3 x 12, 10, 8
Abs - Crunches + Feet Up And Crunch (3 x 30) + Plank (120)
Cardio 45 Minutes Interval
I do all of that, and the above picture is when my trainer squints and says - I need more dedication! I wonder inwardly whether he is serious, or just being difficult, considering that his face was not giving anything away, and when I am battling this internal debate whether I ought to give him a hug or a punch, his straight face breaks into a giggle, and he says chuckling - That was good, man! I was only messing with you!
That is when I go all smiles. Like the one below :-)
Friday, 29th July 2016
I happened to stumble into this rather charming bar of the Friberg 50% Noir Chocolate made in Belgium at my local grocery store. What warmed me to the bones was that the scene on the jacket was one of my favourites - by the countryside, relaxed. A region, where someday, I would like to grow old in, away from the mayhem and rush of the city.
I would like to surround myself with people who are real and people who are unspoilt, away from the ones so very consciously wanting to be that which they are not. I would want to retire in a pristine environment that supports such an ideal manner of living. Sometimes I wonder if I am dreaming of the impossible, and then I tell myself that if a bar of chocolate can have packaging this marvellously designed, then there is indeed scope for appreciating beauty, of having things of beauty around us because those who designed it and those who are picking it up have certain quality attached to their life, and that is when I realise that I have become a bit too pessimistic because living in the city does that to one, it makes them think that there is no hope BUT it is up to us to tell ourselves that life is not as glum to those who breathe free air as opposed to those who are strapped to their metal and tar inhaling lead and dust motes. It also time for us to plan what to do with ourselves a few years from now. I know where I am going, do you?
Sunday, 22nd May 2016
My current reading stack to be finished in the next two months. No wonder I find my head cooked every night. And I haven't even dipped into half of them yet. When babies can be made in other wombs than their biological mother's, isn't there a manner in which I can loan a brain for a few months. A few months is all I ask.
Tuesday, 29th March 2016
That beguiling Blessing Ormolu alarm clock produced in Germany sits
right behind my writing chair. If I do not hear its entrancing tick-tock when I
am scrawling away I feel as if something were dreadfully wrong. Its timekeeping
is like fuel to my creative fingerprints. How very intriguing indeed that
little things make such a difference in the mechanics of daily life. How we
cannot do without what we are used to. And how it can affect everything around
us in more ways than we can possibly imagine.
I had published that couple
of days ago on my Facebook wall, and a dear friend Meghna (Vakada) responded to
my reflections such –
The pleasure of having
friends who are consumed rather patently by the unquenchable thirst for wisdom
is something that adds great lustre to life!
History of Blessing
Clock Company
The Blessing Clock Company, or otherwise known as Blessing-Werke
AG Company existed in Waldkirsch/Breisgau, Germany, in the mid-eighteenth
century up until the nineteenth century. It is believed to shut shop sometime
in the year 1977. The timepieces created in their workshop are absolute works
of art in filigree ormolu. They were all carved by hand. Once wound, the soft
clockwork is magically mesmerising. To find them in working order is a boon.
Thankfully mine has kept time since I have had it in my possession.
Tuesday, 29th December 2015
Chotu at home on his birthday.
Limoges. Rosenthal. Bang and Olufsen.
This was taken in my library sometime last year. I bought that Limoges hand painted pen tray in an antique shop in London. The angel is from the classic collection by Rosenthal. The smashing red tatting is done by my mother. And the phone is from one of my favourite companies Bang and Olufsen
1920 Hand Painted Tin
Majority do not consider tin to be art, but then there are some like me who think that it is nothing less than any other fine work of art. This charming hand painted confectionery box made in 1920 was gifted by a friend who lives in France.
CAESAR CRYSTAL BOHEMIAE
CAESAR CRYSTAL BOHEMIAE, a.s. is a continuator of the quality glass
manufacturing tradition in the Josefodol glassworks, which was established in
1861 by Viennese businessman Josef Schreiber within charming valley the Sázavka
river and Zbožský stream near to town of Světlá nad Sázavou in the Bohemian and
Moravian highlands.
The cased crystal – pure crystal base of the product, which is
covered by, thin layer of coloured crystal during production at high
temperature. During cutting is this colour layer cut by tech. diamond blade and
it makes unique effect of decor in contrast of colour, crystal and light.
Even today the crystal pieces are individually mouth blown and cut by
hand and polished by hand. The colours you see are minerals added to the glass. This is from their NORA series.
The tatting lace is woven by my mother and the dining table it has been placed on belonged to my grandfather and made in solid rosewood.
CAESAR CRYSTAL BOHEMIAE, a.s. is a continuator of the quality glass
manufacturing tradition in the Josefodol glassworks, which was established in
1861 by Viennese businessman Josef Schreiber within charming valley the Sázavka
river and Zbožský stream near to town of Světlá nad Sázavou in the Bohemian and
Moravian highlands.
The cased crystal – pure crystal base of the product, which is
covered by, thin layer of coloured crystal during production at high
temperature. During cutting is this colour layer cut by tech. diamond blade and
it makes unique effect of decor in contrast of colour, crystal and light.
Even today the crystal pieces are individually mouth blown and cut by
hand and polished by hand. The colours you see are minerals added to the glass. This is from their NORA series.
The tatting lace is woven by my mother and the dining table it has been placed on belonged to my grandfather and made in solid rosewood.