Frankensteins and Draculas

Have you ever noticed that the Indian 'horror story' never quite seems as scary as the non-Indian ones? I mean I am no great reader so I admit I am ignorant about any great horror story set in India and written by an Indian, but just look at the movies! I mean each one looks the same as the next and are not as nearly scary as Paranormal Activity or Jeepers Creepers (my personal horror pinnacle, dont ask me why, just is!) Sitting in the hot,humid and always bustling India I failed to understand why it was so...now i know...

Don't get me wrong, i don't mean to be a snob. It is just that these are the factors that take away the chill factor in a scary read or movie. I mean even the unearthly creatures would fear being trampled by the magnitude of people and instead of chill down your spine all you are likely to feel is the trickle of sweat. That does nothing to create the sense of horror...at least not the fictional kind! 

But now, as I sit here with overcast, foreboding skies, and howling winds that rattle through the house even through tightly shut doors and windows-an unanticipated chill slides down the spine which has nothing to do with the single figure temperature! When you are alone with no sound of cars outside your window, or people screaming around you about daily mundane things, or even your neighbours fighting about dripping laundry, it is easy to imagine things. The rhythmic thump of the door can sound like footsteps, the rattling hinges can sound like someone trying to get in and the howls of wind seem to hide the bloodcurdling cries of a tortured soul...

There is a reason greats like the Frankenstein and the Dracula were originated in the UK. Where else will you find storms that empty the streets and darkness that creeps into your skin. The wet chill will always grip at your heart and make it thump away in an anticipation for the uncanny.....

Sunday blues

Sundays here are different from the ones back home. In  India sundays are associated with the last minute rush of ending the weekend with a bang! In kolkata, this means that there will be no vacant seat at the south city food court, multiplex ticket prices are insanely expensive and most good restaurants have a sizeable queue. Especially during the festive season which starts a good month or two before the actual featival! 

In Liverpool, Sundays are quite depressing.  The roads are empty, yhe shops close much earlier and most eating joints are either closed or are offering an all day fixed rate prices (for buffets), which are almost  equal to the weekend rates! This reminds you more strongly that the wicked me monday is just around the corner! But there is one thing I personally like about Sundays-the distant chiming of church bells...

Be it my 'convent' education or just a personal preference...I uave somehow found a greater feeling of devotion and peace at churches than in mandirs. Thus, when the church bells ring, it fills me a strange kind of hope. I imagine the stain glass windows letting in rainbow rays of light on the rows of benches. I imagine the solitude of the empty church where you can hear your own footsteps..your own heartbeats. I imagine jesus' half shut eyes, his knowing smile and his hand raised in blessing. 

Does that mean I believe in Christianity more than Hinduism...of course not...but I love churches more than mandirs..does that make sense? 

Welcome

Welcome!

For those who have already visited my blog in the past (yes, both of you!) might be a little surprised at this new look blog. Well don't be alarmed, you are still in the right place! You might have heard of Sleepless in Seattle, well I here, am currently Restless in Liverpool! I know it does not have the ring, does it? But the only other thing I could think of was Liverless in Liverpool, that doesn't even make sense! I am going off the point again, how typical! Anyways, the point is, in my utter boredom, I have decided to refurbish the tattered old blog of mine and give it some new life.  Not to mention attract potential employers. Oops!Should I have been so blunt about that one? Well, I always have my foot at the back of my throat so...what the heck!

Another reason I went through this daunting task (okay, it wasn't that daunting!) is that this time I actually want to make an active attempt to make people to read my blog. You see, I had started this blog in 2007, actually earlier, I had deleted that poor blog in a fit of self loathing. Anyways, back then I had no idea what a blog was supposed to be. It was just as disorganized and whimsical as the numerous notebooks lying around the house with half written verses. Now, I am married, have professional experience and am by law and convention a real 'grown up'! (I still have trouble swallowing that) So, i decided to give my blog a little grown up appearance as well. 

Thus, from now begins the London Diaries...(ok, its liverpool but this just sounds better).  I will record all that I see and hear around town and report it back to you (gulp!). Gone are the days of private scribbling on the online page, this is the day of reckoning, of my blog coming of age! Sorry, rhyme is something i can't control, when fingeres touch the board, the rhymes just roll. Okay, shut up now! I bid adieu in the hope you will be back, and congrats on getting this far, you have almost reached the end! Toodles and best wishes!

P.S: The new changes are still under development. Please mind the gaps.

P.P.S: Kindly leave some encouraging words in the comments. Those of you who know must know I have              very little perseverance when it comes to things like this! :P