Cheila has passed on the Blue Sky Tag II to me. She blogs about all things that matter to her with a touch of humour and in a candid conversational style. Let’s put it thus, when you find yourself clicking on the link to her blog, you will not be calling me a fathead.
The Rules:
- Give 11 questions
- Tag 11 people
- Answer the 11 questions given to you
Cheila’s Questions:
- Do you live an a house or an apartment?
Apartment
- Where are you from?
I was born in Oman and lived there the first 8 years of my life, grew up in Calcutta for the next 13 years and then went to New Delhi to study further and work. I now live in Northampton, UK. I carry all of them with me.
- What do you do for a living? Are you happy doing it?
I write articles for magazines and newspapers. It has lessened a fair bit with all the blogging and reading blogs but I am working on a book alongside. I am content with the way things are at the moment because I know a change is coming up soon and there is nothing better than living in the moment.
- What do you do to stay fit?
I do anything that catches my fancy. Once it was hot yoga (but boy it makes you almost pass out), spinning, pilates and and working out using weights. Now I go running in the park almost everyday and do yoga a few days a week.
- What time do you wake up and go to bed?
Some days I get up between 6-7am, other days at 8am, and am off to bed by 11.30pm.
- What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday?
I like to badger the husband to go on long, long walks to a park in another part of town. The badgering itself takes time and patience but it pays off with a lot of frowns and scowls and then the walk. After which we work off all that walking by sitting with a massive tub of popcorn each and binge watch films and shows.
- Have you ever been in love?
Everyday of my life. I am in love with something or the other. The jackpot in my life is the husband and the memory of his dog Tuktuk who is the other great love I have. Tuktuk was a handsome, kebab-loving labrador who passed onto another realm a few years ago but has not left our hearts.
- What do you always have in your fridge or pantry?
Salted caramel yogurt, milk, dark chocolate bark, berries, sunflower seeds, popping corn, baking soda and pecans. I have a lot more of course but if I put out an inventory…
- What TV shows do you follow right now?
There are so many. Off the top of my head, The Americans, The Wine Show, Paul Murton’s Grand Tours of Scotland, The Vikings, Mr. Selfridges, Pretty Little Liars, The Man in the High Castle, Billions, The Voice, Happy Valley, The Missing, Storyville, Black Mirror…We are your quintessential TV show addicts.
- What was the last book you read?
The Sword of Justice by Leif G.W. Persson.
- If you could only wear one for the rest of your life, lipstick or mascara?
I am in a bold lip colour phase right now. For now, I hold on to my lipstick.
Nominees:
Not everyone wants to be tagged so I shall quietly leave the questions below and you can answer them in the comments or not.
My Questions:
- Has the year begun well for you?
- What do you have on the travel list for this year?
- What books do you have by your bedside table?
- Are you a city or quiet town/village kinda person?
- Are you happy with where you live or do you want to live in another part of the world?
- Which loyalty programs (airlines/hotels), according to you, are the ones to watch out for?
- What are your plans for the upcoming weekend?
- Books or films?
- Mountains or the sea?
- Your favourite buy from the last three months?
- What’s for dinner tonight?
Before I wind off, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May the feast be fantastic.
ARUNDHATI BASU 
Has the year begun well for you?
Yes.
What do you have on the travel list for this year?
Short trip to Los Angeles for 4 days next week, and then hoping to visit Lisbon in July.
What books do you have by your bedside table?
Just finished Amy Poehler’s Yes Please, and on the Kindle app of my phone I’m reading an academic book: Brand-Driven City-Building and the Virtualization of Space.
Are you a city or quiet town/village kinda person?
A city person, but right now I split the difference by living in a small city of roughly 350,000.
Are you happy with where you live or do you want to live in another part of the world?
In the late Spring /Summer (May to October) there is no more beautiful place than Victoria / Southwestern British Columbia as far as I’m concerned. But from November to mid-February it rains and rains way too much. The ideal would be a home in two places.
Which loyalty programs (airlines/hotels), according to you, are the ones to watch out for?
Air miles.ca in the bad sense.They decided to have points expire and then made it very hard to people to redeem them pre-expiry. Created a lot of media controversy in my part of the world.
What are your plans for the upcoming weekend?
Working (I work from home and have some hours to make up), taking our dog out for a romp around a Lake with great off-leash trails.
Books or films? Both!
Mountains or the sea? Definitely the sea.
Your favourite buy from the last three months?
It’s a tie between two things. The first is a pair of mid-calf black suede boots (Wolky brand). Technically I got them a bit longer than three months ago, but the zipper on one broke and they were still under warranty so I got a new pair (gave me faith in the retailer and the manufacturer.) I love them because they go with just about everything and they are so, so comfy. The second item is a small purse with a portrait of Frida Kahlo on the front. I got it in Guadalajara on a trip with my husband. We had a wonderful time on that holiday.
What’s for dinner tonight?
It’s 645 am my time as I write this, so not sure. I’m vegetarian and my husband is a carnivore. Safe to say that meat and vegetables will both be involved somehow -but separate from each other.
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That is a fun list of answers, Laura *note to self about airmiles.ca. Thank you for indulging me. I was not sure anyone would be up for it. British Columbia is so beautiful. The bits I have seen of it including Victoria charmed me. If I lived in Victoria, I would be quite so very happy. The buys sound exciting including the Frida Kahlo motif bag. Guadalajara sounds exotic! I have not been to LA (some day hopefully I shall) but Lisbon is soulfulness personified. Have a lovely walking n’ working kinda weekend 🙂
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I loved your answers!! I started watching The Man in The High Castle and watched about 2 episodes and then stopped. Would you say the show is worth it?
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Thank you love. Yes yes, please do watch it. Even I had a bit of a task with the first few episodes because, mind you, its author had turned history upon its head. As a reader or while watching the show, you will find it weird but it gets gripping.
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I love the plot but I found the first episodes boring. I’m going to go ahead and continue to watch it.
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It is slow initially because it is introducing the characters and the idea to you 🙂 Have fun watching it.
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Thank you!!
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Has the year begun well for you?
Not really.
What do you have on the travel list for this year?
Mt Shasta. Patagonia… Maybe Europe again.
What books do you have by your bedside table?
Some Star wars saga… After I saw Rogue One, I was pulled into the franchise for the first time at an emotional level.
Are you a city or quiet town/village kinda person?
Bit of both.
Are you happy with where you live or do you want to live in another part of the world?
I love where I am… great weather. access to trails, water, and several different kinds of biospheres…
Which loyalty programs (airlines/hotels), according to you, are the ones to watch out for?
ermm…. never used one.
What are your plans for the upcoming weekend?
I avoid being alone like the plague these days.
Sat: Mountain bike with a group … Pub Crawl for St Patty’s … friends’ bday party
Sun: Mountain bike again … salsa lesson… Experiment with Faith … Meet strangers for dinner.
Books or films?
Films
Mountains or the sea?
Mountains.
Your favourite buy from the last three months?
My plane tickets to Spain.
What’s for dinner tonight?
One banana and some celery maybe..
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Thank you for being a sport 🙂 That was an interesting list. The last one makes me think you are serious about the six packs! I like the weekend to-do list. I am envious about the mountain biking. All that fresh air and biking can only be uplifting, eh? Well done you *high five
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*high five enthusiastically accepted.
its all a sham… the mountain biking is so that the fatigued muscles can soak up inordinate quantities of alcohol…
but thanks… its all invested for a better day.
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Ha ha ha that is a good ploy. Clever you. Go on, enjoy yourself 🙂
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