Recycling plastic bottles

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 4/1/2013 8:21:00 PM

'I have been selling all used plastic bottles, boxes, and everything plastic that's waste in my home to the local scrap buyer (kabadiwala). I knew for a fact that if a kabadiwala is paying me money to buy all old plastic then there ought to be a reason for it. I googled and figured that used plastic is crushed and processed to make different things, but I did not find a well written document which explained what really happens with all this plastic.Just today, I read an article which(...)'

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School admission dilemma!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 1/21/2013 10:05:00 AM

'Getting through to a good school in the Indian big cities is no joke. The reasons for this varies from one city to another.Our main criterion for a good school is that it should be inclusive. School ranking etc. can be secondary as we don't even know what my daughter wants to become when she grows up. If she wants to study any form of performing arts in Berkley or The Julliard School, no elite Indian school can get her there unless she has the talent and we have the means to be a pa(...)'

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2012 is ending...

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 12/30/2012 9:49:00 AM

'The one thing I really wished was peace and happiness in this seemingly chaotic and unpredictable world. when I wrote my new year post early January this year. Sadly, through the year, in spite of many highs on the personal front, several unfortunate incidents happened all around the world, and all of those affected me deeply. The young Delhi girl who was brutally tortured only to die was no friend of mine, but her death has a deep impact on me, and I know the dent that ha(...)'

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What not to wear - Thai temples!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 12/10/2012 11:03:00 AM

'Thailand may be a very cosmopolitan city with people of all over the world thronging, and all kinds of crazy things happening. But, when it comes to the temples at the Grand Palace in Bangkok the scene is very different. Women cannot wear sleeveless tops or short pants/3-quarters. I guess the same rule applies with men as well. I saw many men and women wearing palazzos and sarongs respectively that they hired from outside the temples. Crazy, isn't it?'

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Krabi

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 12/10/2012 10:41:00 AM

'Krabi in pictures!At Ao Nang beachWaiting to go island hopping on one of these boats!Information centreHeading towards the boat... Joy and Aanya leading...The sail has just begun...I don't know how I captured this... it just happened!Walking in the middle of the ocean!Chicken Island... looks more like ostrich!I spot a turtle there!Poda Island'

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Diwali decorations!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 11/25/2012 8:10:00 PM

'I don't celebrate Diwali as such, but I like the idea of lights and decoration everywhere. Mumbai literally dresses up during Diwali. This year I decorated my house a bit as I wanted Aanya to know what Diwali is. Had I not fallen ill I would've done a lot more. I also want her to understand and appreciate the need to recycle things and value all that she has. Hence, most of the decorations at our home were reused, like the diyas, streamers etc. or recycled. I made paper diyas f(...)'

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Recycled toy holder

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 11/24/2012 7:04:00 PM

'I always loved cane baskets to keep toys and I planned to buy a big basket for my daughter to keep her toys in them. While cleaning up the house I found a lot of cardboard boxes lying around, and one of the boxes gave me an idea. I believe in recycling, and I spend a lot of time recycling different kinds of things. I didn't realise when this has become a hobby. I pulled out the scanner-printer carton and cut the top flaps and it was ready to use. Initially I thought of putting (...)'

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Judgement Day

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 11/21/2012 7:48:00 PM

'Today as I read this I remember that night I was glued to the tv just hoping and praying that the terrorists are caught and life in Mumbai gets to normal. Later in the morning I fell off to sleep for some time only to suddenly wake up to the sound of the tv. The news of the dead made me shudder inside. I still remember some of the faces of people who either lost a family member or just survived by luck.Four years have passed. Everybody has moved on in life, and so have I. (...)'

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Here we go again... Thailand calling!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 11/16/2012 10:10:00 PM

'I dream of travelling almost all the time, but the dreams don't come true that often. After a wait of 4 years Joy and I, along with our darling daughter are making an international trip! This trip is special as this is my baby's first time abroad. Also, this is going to be a family trip to celebrate my in-laws' 40th marriage anniversary!  We are going to Bangkok and Krabi in Thailand (one of my travel dream destinations) early December.Updates will follow as I return from (...)'

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My tribute to a genius called Jagjit Singh

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 10/9/2012 8:08:00 PM

'Last year on September 24 I heard on the television that Jagjit Singh was hospitalised after suffering brain haemmorage, and in the next fews the news only got gloomier. On October 10 he passed away. He created a void in the music world, especially in the ghazal singing fraternity; he also created a void in my life. I haven't had the privilege of knowing him, nor even meeting him, yet I felt a huge loss in my heart. I guess that's what the 'greats' do. Through their w(...)'

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The grind begins - school admissions!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 10/8/2012 4:30:00 PM

'I picked up Anushka's 1st school admission form today... I said 1st as I'll have to pick up many more so that she gets a seat in one of the good schools! It is not easy to get your child in one of the top schools in the city unless you are quite rich or famous or both! Joy and I are none! But, we will do our best to get Anushka in one among the 4 schools I have shortlisted. They are counted among the best in the whole of Mumbai and the most preferred and sought after in the Wetsern (...)'

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Anushka turns 2! to be contd.

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 8/17/2012 6:26:00 PM

'Anushka's birthday celebrations at Sneha Sadan!'

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Four years of blogging and the Olympics!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 8/13/2012 10:07:00 AM

'I started blogging 4 years ago the day Abhinav Bindra won the first individual gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. I was so happy that my country got a place at the medals tally with a gold medal that I wanted to do something, and I dared to step into blogging! The past 4 years I have blogged about a variety of things that touched my heart, and today I am writing this post as many Indian athletes have touched my heart and their achievements make me happy.To start with, what a lovely(...)'

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A new beginning!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 7/22/2012 8:06:00 PM

'One of my new students in one of the schools (not mentioning the name) is autistic. I know a little about autism, but this was the first time I met anyone with the condition. Though it was difficult to get his attention at the start, and make him play the piano; however, towards the end of the session he showed me the middle C on the piano and responded when I called his name. I felt it was a good start!This school has quite a few children with various difficulties, and weak motor s(...)'

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London Olympics 2012

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 7/17/2012 5:30:00 PM

'Olympics 2012  is just 10 days away, and how much do the Indians know about the Indian contingent who are going to paricipate at the London games? There has been bits and pieces in the newspapers about some of the participants for some time now, and suddenly, there are write-ups about quite a few of the participants in the past week or so. There is a little on television as well, thanks to the sponsors! But, the excitement that gets built during the IPL matches or the regular c(...)'

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Recycling audio cassettes

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 5/21/2012 8:54:00 PM

'Audio cassettes are obsolete and are never going to make a comeback, I think. But, there are so many memories attached to those cassettes. Most of us have grown up listening to music on cassettes. Since recording music from one cassette to another was easy, many of us had our own personalised music albums.With the newer technology for listening to music there is just no use of cassettes in our lives anymore, but to throw away such memories really hurts. I still have some of the cass(...)'

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Anushka at 21 months!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 5/15/2012 4:46:00 PM

'My Anushka completed 21 months today! 18 months to now have been such a lovely journey, so many 1st times to add to the baby book! She started walking rather late, and while we were still worrying if there was some problem in her muscle development or anything else she almost started running the day she turned 18 months. And from that day on, I am running after her! She dances every time she listens to her favourite melodies; hums along with me when she is in a  mood; but most (...)'

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Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 5/5/2012 6:00:00 PM

'It was a lovely evening of music, dance and poetry at the Lokhandwala Garden to celebrate Poila Baishakh and Rabindra Jayanti; two very special days for Bengalis. Many Bengalis from Andheri to Kandivali gathered here to be a part of this 'Bonghomie'!It's been 16 years since I last performed Rabindrasangeet on stage, and I thoroughly enjoyed singing. Also, I wore a Dhakai saree, a first-time ever! This evening was special as I have missed not singing all these yea(...)'

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Anushka singing?!

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 4/28/2012 10:35:00 PM

'Anushka may still be too small to sing, but she looks as though she is! By the way, these days she hums along with me , of course, when she is in the mood for it!'

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Germany

Author : Chandrima Roy      Blog : Random Thoughts      Date : 4/16/2012 8:46:00 PM

'After a splendid time in Switzerland, it was time to say adieu to one of the most beautiful places in the world. We woke up early morning to have a last look at the unbelievable view of the place form the hotel room and went down to have breakfast. There was excitement as we were going to another country, yet there was a little yearning deep down saying, wish I could be here for a longer time. Had to brush off that thought instantly, and Joy and I went to board the coach. This was t(...)'

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