This is the only way to do this...

Just read Sue's post where she scribbles from Madras - and decided that 'Notes' is the only way to summarize my Delhi trip (else I will just put it off until I forget):

1. Was Very Nice Weather. Cold but not too cold. Perfect for snuggling up with your baby. Especially if your baby curls right up into the C-shape formed by your arms, front and thighs when you sleep on your side.

2. Mum has moved into a new house. Is beautiful, ground floor and with a garden that has lovely trees, especially one mango tree which I wanted to climb immediately but didn't. Mum is doing it up very nicely, is a lot of work. More power to you, Mom! Don't ask me what that means, I don't really know, but it's a good thing.

3. There is a whole lot of junk that needs to be cleaned up. I did my bit by sorting out my old clothes from ten years ago, there is a huge pile that will make some poor young girls very happy, if somewhat out of date. I also undid all my helpfulness in my mothers eyes, by taking the initiative to sort out HER old clothes - made a huge give away pile but it turns out she wanted them all, for some reason. Sigh. No one appreciates initiative. Initiative ka to zamaane hi nahin raha.

4. My brother and sis-in-law were in town and met Peanut. They were quite the doting Maama and Maami, and had bought her a huge pile of board and touchy-feely books, and even one talking Nursery Rhymes book - I particularly love 'Meg and Mog' and 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and 'Where's Spot?'. They are a lot of fun. Oh, must remember to share them with Peanut. By the way, Meg and Mog has a poem which the witches chant to cast a spell

'Frog in a Bog
Bat in a Hat
Snap Crackle Pop
And Fancy That!'

Isn't that lovely? I can't stop reciting it, once I start. It may even replace the Wombat stew poem for me! Well, that's pushing it, but still.

5. Peanut's Maama and Maami played with her a lot, and even danced with her to songs from Om Shaanti Om and Saawariya. That Deewangi song is nice. I must watch OSO. I am hopelessly behind the times, aren't I? Never mind. My brother and sis-in-law were quite sad to see us go, and there were talks of hiding Peanut and smuggling her away in their suitcases. All talk and no action, that's them.

6. We decided to watch a movie one evening at home, but couldn't decide at all - spent half an hour arguing until someone said 'Sholay'. Watched only the first half hour but kept singing the movie's praises and enjoyed the whole 'Wah, wah' session thoroughly. That is one classy movie! This is a public apology to my husband, whose attempts to watch it recently I have been thwarting, saying 'Not again'. You can never watch that movie too many times, I think. It was great, except that my brother kept saying all the important dialogues 5 seconds before and after the actor on screen said them.

7. I met just about everybody in my family in Delhi, which was really nice - all four grandparents, bua, masi, cousin, siblings... A few friends kept popping in here and there, too, which was also nice - but this trip was really about the family. Peanut took to everybody very happily and has suddenly become very social. Is stranger anxiety only supposed to last a week? Oh well, it's good, I guess.

Am so glad I did this trip. After an afternoon spent basking in the sun while eating oranges in the park, and chatting with my 92 year old Dadaji, I had a feeling that if this were my last week alive, I wouldn't have spent it any differently. Slightly morbid thought but an interesting perspective. Especially since I don't think I've ever been able to say that before. Pity we can't just live like that all the time. Or can we? I don't know.

I will not ruin this post and my mood by writing about the flight back over here. And how are all of YOU?