Cooking up stories

Some nights I feel like the Seherzadi of the Arabian Nights. My little boy is a stickler for his favorite things and he has to cling on it, come what may.

The other night, he wanted a bed time story. "sto-ey, Mama sto-ey!" He insisted. I was tired to my bones having had rimdro at home but I knew better than to fight with him. So, in a tired tone, I began his all time favorite "Elephant and Moo-Cow" story (if I'm not mistaken, I did post this story not very long ago).

But a child will challenge you when you least have the strength to pull on. "No, arko sto-ey!" He jabs at my chest. I'm in no mood to conjure up a story yet I play on and ask him, "what story?"

"Ol Mac Domal" he giggles in glee. Gawd! Of all the rhymes in the world! But do I have a choice? So I start braying," Old McDonald had a farm e-I-e-I-o".

"NO! Not song! Sto-ey!" He knows what he wants. But I'm lost. Where do I get an Old MaDonald Story from? (Have you ever read one? Have you heard one?)

Lifting all my creativity from my sleep-ridden brain I start the story:

Long time ago, there was a man called Old McDonald. (Yea! My boy claps his tiny hands. I smile at him). Old McDonald had a farm. (He looks excited)
"Did he have animals?" He asks me.
An involuntary yawn escapes from my tired soul.

"Yes, he had lots of animals in his farm," I tell him. He is looking at me expectantly. He wants a story. Right! A proper story with a good plot I presume! Ush!

One day, as he went around his farm, he heard Baa-Baa-Black Sheep crying. My son jolts up and donning a sad face, asks me, " why was bac-sue crying?"

"Because.... Ummm... Because..." I am lost for want of the next event in the story while my son gives me his expectant smiles.

" because his little lamb was lost," I tell him, happy for finding my wit.

"Who took the little lamb?" He is about to cry. He is such a softie.

I continue the story in a solemn tone.

Old McDonald told Baa-baa-black sheep," please don't cry. I'll help you look for your little lamb."

So he went around his farm and met Moo-Cow sitting in the grass. "Moo-Cow, did you see Black Sheep's little lamb?" The cow shook her head.

He went further ahead and met a Horsey, pulling a cart. He asked, "Mr. Horsey, did you see the little lamb? The Horsey said he didn't.

He went on asking the pig, dog,cat and conjure up as many animals as you can to get your little one tired.

My boy is tired of all these charade but he is bent on finding the little lamb.

"Then..." He prods me to continue. He is almost crying. He is sad that nobody has seen the little lamb.

I know I have drawn enough straws to test his patience, so I twist the tale to give it a happy ending.

Finally, he met the Red Hen. When he asked her about the little lamb, the Hen asked him,"what does the little lamb look like?"

"Oh! Its fleece is white as snow," replied Old McDonald.

"Oh yes, I saw the Little white lamb following Mary to school," the Red Hen told him.

My son has a broad smile on his face. He already knows where we would find the lost lamb.

I continue the story, my tiredness already melted in my son's happy smile.

So Old McDonald and Baa-baa-black sheep went to Mary's school and found the little lamb there.

We sing the 'Mary had a little lamb' song together.

So, Black Sheep brought her little Lamb back to the farm. The little Lamb was tired from following Mary, so as soon as they reached Old McDonald's farm, she slid into her Mama's arms and feel asleep.

My son smugly slides into my arms and smilingly goes to sleep.

I am left staring at my little one with my eyes filled with love.

Winter Vacation

It was almost end of the school term. ONe lazy sunday afternoon as I was putting my son for his nap, the two girls busied themselves in their laptop games. After putting the boy down, I told the girls that I too am taking a nap. Sometime passed and the girls, except for the tussle for their turns didn't make much conversation. I had almost drifted into light sleep when I heard my little girl exclaim, "You know Angie, my friends are saying they are going to Bangkok during the vacation."
Without opening my eyes,I continue listening to their conversation. Angie replies, "Yea sii, even my friends. Some are going to Australia. Some are going to Singapore!" I hear her moan with regret, almost!

For an instance, I am raided by the urge to pop open my eyes and explain why can't we go for vacation to these places but I choose to play 'I'm sleeping' for some time, just to know where the conversation heads to.

"Owww, Mama and Papa can think of Samtse and Gelephu only for our break, right Angie??" The little one seeks support of disapproval of our family getaway destination. I feel sorry for these little girls who are in a race with their peers. I don't know how to tackle the case so I continue to pretend until I actually fall asleep.

It's been a month since their winter break started and I've brought them to Gelephu. Atleast we have escaped the cold winter of Thimphu. The following are some of the activities we have been carrying out this winter:

Ninda walking in the woods with my father.

Wanted to give Ninda an Elephant ride but my aunty says, "we don't ride on Memey Sangay." So this fake Elephant is all he got to ride on in Manas.

Reading, Reading and more Reading. We have finished the pile we brought from home. Have ordered some more books, Their papa is sending it this weekend. :)

I bought them Drawing books, paints and brushes. This is my Samdrup's favorite piece.

We never run out of ideas. Memey was making us roti for dinner, Angie asked a lump of dough and this is what she created. Ain't it beautiful?

Angie has discovered her green thumbs. Growing garlic, tomato and I don't know what else in her garden.

Can Angie getaway with something without Samdrup asking for it? Nah! So, Ta-dah! Samdrup has her own garden.

His sisters have it and he doesn't, that isn't fair! So, the little guy too gets his own tiny garden. Mind you, this little guy is so protective about his garden, he doesn't even allow birds to land on his garden. "Nana ko garden," he says beaming with happiness.

Their favorite activity. Laptop games and watching movies.

Well,there are many other things the four of us have been upto this winter. Gelephu is not Bangkok but we are happy to have eachother. But yes, these guys miss their Papa a lot. :(

Goodbye 2015

Good morning 2016.

So many wishes, new styles of greetings and of course blaring music from far and wide.

How was my New Year eve?

Totally uncool! I don't know whether to call it the last migraine of 2015, or the very first migraine of 2016 but yeah, I suffered with migraine way before 2016's entry.

But that was not to deter me from ushering in the New day without sending the wishes to my family and friends. I sent and responded the greetings and wishes on fb and Wechat and of course Sms till I could not face even the dimmed glare of my phone.

2015 is gone. It's going to take me some time to remember to write '16' instead of '15' but I know I'll get it perfected within the first week of January. ;)

Time to look at what 2015 has bestowed on me.

✔️My biggest achievement is that I completed reading 28 books. I could have proudly declared 29, but I m left with last two chapters of the book I'm currently on.

✔️La Ama finally happened and I am unabashedly proud of this small dream being fulfilled. More than anything, it is a gift to my Ama who has been a great strength and continues to be so.

✔️Met and made so many wonderful friends from within and outside. Every person I've met and interacted with has taught me valuable lessons in life. Even those who have not been so good to me, I tell you, seriously your negativity has fostered more positivity in my life.

✔️ My heart has enlarged its space for more than my family and friends. I've put in my whole heart to get things done for the #LightUpLangdurbi initiative. What I'm putting in isn't big, but I know this is good enough and this will definitely push me into doing more of such things.

✔️ Been around to schools and two colleges to talk about #ReadingAndWriting. Seeing the children inspired and motivated (because they got to see that even somebody like me could walk around calling myself a 'writer', why couldn't they?) ;)

✔️ I've been home. Have taken care of my family. My children are fed and clothed and loved dearly.

This has been a blessed year. Thank you 2015.