Random highlights

Do you ever wish that some lines are too good to read only once? The lines that make you take a pause and move you. It may be because the writing is so wonderful or because it resonates with something in your life. It is fun to read such lines for a second time. 

Here is a bunch of such savoured 'highlights' from my e-reader. Totally random and in no particular order.

Evolution has a simple explanation. Some things are good to eat, and some things are trying to eat you. At the most basic level, an organism needs to be able to discriminate between these two categories of things from rest of the world.

Goodwill isn't enough, is it, Juliet?

Isola saw Eli's face over Elizabeth's shoulder and told Eben that it had that beautiful light children have before the Age of Reason gets at them.

Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.

I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can't talk to, or worse, someone I can't be silent with.

Reading keeps you from going gaga.

Humour is the best way to make the unbearable bearable.

Snug as a bug in a rug.

There was one of those content, absorbed silences that go with good food.

The weird thing about houses is that they almost always look like nothing is happening inside of them, even though they contain most of our lives. I wonder if that is sort of the point of architecture.

Jesus Christ on a bike.

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

It would be awesome to fly in a super fast airplane that could chase the sunrise around the world for a while.

Of course, love has no respect for questionnaires.

It is said that a character in a book is one third someone you know, one third yourself and one third made up.

"I'm in your hands", I said. Standard polite method for avoiding a choice and empowering other person.

Education is a drawing out, not a putting in.

What colour are your walls? Your sofa? Do you arrange your books alphabetically? Are your drawers tidy or messy? Do you ever hum, and if so, what? Do you prefer cats or dogs? Or fish? What on the earth do you eat for breakfast? You see? I don't know you well enough to marry you.

My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations.

You gave me a forever  within the numbered days.

Like, cancer is in the growth business, right? The taking-people-over business.

Grief doesn't change you Hazel, it reveals you.

Finding Happiness

Happiness is being home after long.  

Happiness is buying a gladiolus stem.

Happiness is yapping your heart out to a dear friend.

Happiness is cooking for loved ones.

Happiness is seeing your little garden shrub bloom.

Happiness is listening to your favourite song on loop.

Happiness is devouring mom made food.

Happiness is meeting new people and making friends.

Happiness is decorating the house.

Happiness is riding a bike.

Happiness is sibling time. 

Happiness is a cup of coffee and book and rain.

Happiness is a cozy nap on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Happiness is singing a song.

Happiness is buying new earrings.

 Happiness is random walks along the sea shore.

Happiness is partying out with friends.

Happiness is random talks with family at the dinner table.

Happiness is clearing CA final in first attempt.

Happiness is penning down this post.

As they say, happiness is a direction not a place.

While there is tea, there is hope!

Tea has always been a normality restorer. If you blink at the computer screen at work and feel that something important is missing, it has to be a cup of tea. Tea can fix almost everything. Have a cold? Have some tea. Freezing, murky weather? Have some tea. Too depressed? Tea will make you cheerful. A very long, tiring drive? Take a road-side tea break.The simplicity and mundane-ness of tea is very appealing.

As a child, I used to love the aroma of simmering 'chai' that used to fill my home each morning. But all I got was a overly milky version of this 'chai', that too if I insisted very much on it.

 Later on when I grew up, this morning cup of chai was 'my' time to chat with my mum. Chai helps to have excellent conversations. Always.

I have been missing my favorite 'cutting chai' in this British country. They do have rains but do not have a 'Chai ki Dukaan'. They have 'Tea Rooms' instead. It took me some time to get used to this 'tea-room' culture. The culture cannot beat our 'masala chai' experience but I cannot deny that it has a charm of its own. The tea-experience in this part of the world has been quite eventful too.

I have been travelling to many places in past few months and a tea shop is the most sought after place after the typical hectic tourist day out.

Aunties tea shop in Cambridge was the best so far. This was a traditional tea room with laced tablecloths and vintage porcelain. 

Like the general feel of a British tea shop, the place had warmth. Several people were seated at smallish but cosy  tables. Shiny teapots were seen tilted over delicate cups. The servers were gliding effortlessly between the tables with trays of cakes and scones. English breakfast tea with fluffy English scones. Yum. That was a happy day! 

The lakeside tearoom at Fountains Abbey was more Victorian. The shop itself was inside a very old estate building constructed long ago. The tea room was like a reminder to tell us that the Studley Park Water gardens were as popular over a century ago as they are now. They had these tiny little jam jars with tasteful flavours.

The Elephant House. Edinburgh, Scotland. A place of inspiration for J K Rowling, this tea shop was seemingly ordinary. They had chalk written menus on wooden boards.

The shop had a view of the Edinburgh castle from the back window.The interior was a bit quirky, themed around elephants. Tea was good here, served with proper strainers.

Angelina Tea Room at Versailles, Paris. This one was very classy. This place was once a favourite of Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn they say. It is pricey but worth a visit.

We had an unusual accompaniment with tea this time. Mythical perfect Macaroon.The place was like a temple of sweetness with its plethora of colourful desserts. 

Many shops, many styles but the magic of tea still remains the same. Whether it comes in the form of a tea bag in hot water or strongly brewed with ginger, tea is always a good idea.