Shine On Award!
With the recent project in Jakarta, I’ve been struggling to make time to do anything other than work. So it took a trip home to Mumbai and a little breathing space to say – “Thank you Gina of the fabulous A 4star life for the Shine On Award nomination!”
I can’t miss your blog and its in my “all time favourites” like Zhongguo Jumble, Kiwi Gypsy, Lady of the Cakes, Ottominuti – You folks are my blogging idols!
To accept the award, I need to share random 7 facts about myself (different to earlier award – Liebster) and nominate 15 other blogs I enjoy reading. If I’ve nominated you (ie blogs below), feel free to ‘accept’ and pass on the joy to others! (more…)
Life’s simple pleasures… the joys of doing laundry?
You may think I’m insane… but right now… the simple pleasure of doing my own laundry in my own washing machine is pure bliss! The ritual of putting it up to dry and then taking them down after a few hours to stack in a pile to go to the press wallah tomorrow morning is such a joy!!
The clothing quandry of working professionally away from home in hotels includes:
- Don’t bother to do laundry. If traveling only a few days, imminently do-able. If not… (Most trips now 21 days)
Happy clean clothes drying in the balcony
- Selectively attempt to hand wash and dry in the hotel room (Works for the ahem! ‘unmentionables’ but not everything)
- Live in the same clothes repeatedly (Nope – can’t do!)
- Pack a massive bag and lug around enough clothes to last the entire trip (Generally, if I can’t carry it on the plane myself, don’t to take it!)
- Do send clothes for laundry and live with the consequences
None of these options are ideal. With all my trips back n forth between Mumbai and Jakarta, I’ve tried a modified approach: (more…)
“Can you drop the Indian accent?” – Accents and voice overs
Recently, I did a voice over in Jakarta for an ad pitch. They were looking for a middle-aged woman with a North American accent who could speak with warmth, like a mother to her growing child. Now…
Where the deed was done!
- I’m indeed a ‘native’ English speaker
- I’m certainly from North America (yes the Canadian prairies count!)
- I’m quite happily in my 40s so the right ‘age’ (more or less)
However… I don’t exactly have what you would call a typical ‘Canadian’ accent any more. Truth be told after a decade plus in India, it has more than just a tinge of an Indian lilt.
So given just how Indianized my accent has become, it was no surprise that my friend who arranged the voice recording begged me “Can you please drop your Indian accent?”
Apparently I succeeded in reclaiming my ‘home and native land’ accent. We were able to ‘nail’ the recording in only 5 takes – including options for the client to consider.
Now I’m not a professional at doing voice recordings, so it was an amusing experience however it did prompt me to think about how our accents adapt to our environment. (more…)
Glen Breton, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain
Part of a tasting notes series from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India. This month was my turn to host and it was such a delight having folks home.
Tasting Notes from 22 August 2013
This month we blind tasted three samples before revealing the whisky. We featured: Glen Breton 10 year, Bruichladdich Rocks, Bunnahabhain 18 year with a desert ‘extra’ of White Owl Spiced.
“Home sweet home with nearly a full house”
Daily Prompt: Name that… You!
Daily Prompt: Name that… You!
Do you know the meaning of your name, and why your parents chose it? Do you think it suits you? What about your children’s names?
There have been many ‘Daily Prompts’ that spark an idea and an interest to write a post however invariably I’ve ended up distracted by business or pleasure.
Today caught me between tasks with a bursting desire to share how in 1969 I came to be called “Carissa Lynn” just as in 1971 my sister became “Chandra Jean.”
Chandra & Carissa enjoying a cousin’s wedding in 2012
As I understand the story, my mother’s first name “Edith” was a bit of a family tradition for a few generations. However… what young woman with a gorgeous singing voice and a desire to spread her wings beyond a small town wants to be saddled with a name like “Edith”? Come on, really?
Everyday Asia 