Payal

This is the story of my dear friend Payal:

Nilesh and Payal

Engagement : 21st January 2006

Happily Wedded Couple - Nilesh and Payal
Wedding: 7th April 2007

Today Payal gave birth to a beautiful baby boy at around 9.00 A.M in Nadi. I can't wait to see the baby :)... I'm soo excited!!!

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Contractor - House

Finally decided on the Contractor who will build the house. Design & Builders - quite good company and very professional. Initial meeting went really well. Prior to arranging a meeting my parents had requested to see some works-in-progress and completed works. Only after being satisfied by the visual references they arranged for a meeting...

The first meeting took place yesterday. Things discussed were:

• the house plans,
  
• a few changes to the house plans,
• finishing,
  
• payment terms and conditions
• Legal agreement
  

As I said initial meeting went well.

We are targeting July end or August beginning to kick start construction.

The next step is to talk to the bank.

Point to Note:

I'm really happy with my Dads enthusiasm for this "Project". He is taking alot of interest and wants things done his way. We are having long long discussions at night!!!

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Finance- House

After alot of discussions and research (regarding loans) we finally came to some good conclusions. I'm getting partial loan from bank and partial from my Parents and the remainder from my savings. Obviously all three are considered loans and have different interest rates attached to it... And I have a time frame of repaying all of them...

I had tried a number of scenarios and this is by far the best...

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First Photos

Finally took some pictures... Quite happy with the results!!!

Marcus: "Take my picture... take my picture"

Whisky and Bruno
Whisky: "Hey... I've finally settled down on my comfy quilt... it matches my coat so make sure to take my picture properly!!!"

Bruno: " What are you talking about Whisky... ? Can't you see that she's focussing on me!!!"

Buzo: " I don't have to pose.... I'm cute even when lying down!!!"

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Healing or Killing?

Seems to be out of Dragonlance - especially to do with Raistlin Majere and Crysania.... (The Legends - Trilogy)

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Another Perfect Ad

Great Ad for Colgate!!!

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Joke :)

The Stranded Irishman

One day an Irishman, who had been stranded on a deserted island for over 10 years, saw a speck on the horizon.

He thought to himself, 'It's certainly not a ship.' As the speck got closer and closer, he began to rule out even the possibilities of a small boat or a raft. Suddenly there strode from the surf a figure in a black wet suit.

Putting aside the scuba tanks and mask and zipping down the top of the wet suit stood a drop-dead gorgeous blonde! She walked up to the stunned Irishman and said to him, 'Tell me, how long it has been since you've had a good cigar?'

'Ten years' replied the amazed Irishman. With that, she reached over and unzipped a waterproof pocket on the left sleeve of her wet suit and pulled out a fresh package of cigars and a lighter.

He took a cigar, slowly lit it, and took a long drag. 'Faith and begorrah,' said the castaway, 'that is so good! I'd almost forgotten how great a smoke can be!'

'And how long has it been since you've had a drop of good Bushmill's Irish Whiskey?' asked the blonde. Trembling, the castaway replied, 'Ten years.'

Hearing that, the blonde reached over to her right sleeve, unzipped a pocket there and removed a flask and handed it to him. He opened the flask and took a long drink. ' 'Tis nectar of the gods!' shouted the Irishman. ' 'Tis truly fantastic!!!'

At this point the gorgeous blonde started to slowly unzip the long front of her wet suit, right down the middle. She looked at the trembling man and asked, 'And how long has it been since you played around?'

With tears in his eyes, the Irishman fell to his knees and sobbed,
'Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Don't tell me that you've got golf clubs in there too!'

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India

"Can you see the India's 10 leaders?"

Mahatma Gandhi
Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Rabindranath Tagor
Jawaharlal Nehru
Bhagat Singh
Rajendra Prasad
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy
Rajiv Gandhi
Mrs Indira Gandhi

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Pic

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House

Getting Finance for Home Construction

I have been asking around (banks especially) on their home loans. The response I'm getting is not very good. Everyone is ready to give loans but gosh if you look at the package in detail its like you are being ripped off!!

Here is one example of what I mean (I have used a figure to illustrate my bewilderment) :

Loan Amount: $80k
Term Period: 25 years
Repayment : $750 - $800 per month

In this case by just using simple maths: after 25 years the amount paid would be $225k - $240k!!! And this is just for $80k.

I have developed a severe headache because of this!!!

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Eggs Anyone

Are you sure??? :)

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Hungry anyone??

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Smile

Sooooooo..... Always use COLGATE!!!! :)

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Nice

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Strategies for Surviving Hard Times

Rule 1
Don't Buy What You Can't Afford

Rule 2
If You Can't Pay Cash, You Probably Can't Afford It

Rule 3
Paying Interest on Anything Makes Somebody Else Rich

Rule 4
If You Are in Debt, stop Spending Money

Rule 5
Don't Count on Somebody Else to Save You

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Crabby Old Man

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

CRABBY OLD MAN

What do you see nurses? .....What do you see?

What are you thinking......when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit ......with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food.......and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice.....'I do wish you'd try!'

Who seems not to notice the things that you do.
And forever is losing.......... A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not........lets you do as you will
With bathing and feeding ....... The long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse......you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am ........ As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding,....as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten.......with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters ..........who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen...with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now.........a lover he'll meet.

A groom soon at Twenty .......my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows.........that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now ........ I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide, And a secure happy home.

A man of Thirty .... My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other ....... With ties that should last.

Forty, my young sons ..have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me........to see I don't mourn.

At Fifty, once more, .... Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children ..... My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me ........... My wife is now dead.
I look at the future .............I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing ...young of their own.
And I think of the years........ And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man..........and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age ...look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles..........grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone........where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass ...... A young guy still dwells,
And now and again .........my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys.............. I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living.............life over again.

I think of the years ...all too few......gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact.........that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people ..........open and see..
Not a crabby old man. Look closer....see........ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.....we will all, one day, be there, too!

GROWING OLD IS NOT FOR SISSIES! ! !

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Got It!!!

Just heard from Dad... My camera is here. Yippee!!!

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Doggy Love

Surely a lesson worth learning from these puppies...

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32nd Wedding Anniversary - Part 1

10^TH June 2008

32 years ago, on this same calendar day, my parents were legally married.

In Fiji we generally have two types of marriages.

First one is the registered marriage – marriage recognized by law

Second one is the traditional marriage – recognized by religion and traditional society. And this cannot happen without producing a marriage certificate!! The priests / pundits insist upon sighting it.

I wish them many more years of happily wedded bliss!!!

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Lists

Of late I have started making a list of everything that I have to do.

* Budget list,

* Shopping List – Grocery, Misc., Clothes,

* To Do List

Till recently my family only knew about the shopping list and only found out about my To -Do List on Sunday morning. I had never thought that they would be interested in it. But before I could go into any lengthy explanation I was told of things that needed to go into my list – things that I had been postponing. And to top it all my Dad kept reminding me to do the things that I had listed throughout the course of the day!!! It was like having a personal secretary.

I’m not really sure whether I should continue with this To-Do List… I don’t think I’ll be able to get any rest or catch up on my sleep in the weekends!!!

But on the other hand things that are part of my resolution where I haven’t made any headway – I think I should make that part of a list and put it on a board. Then just maybe I’ll be motivated to work on it. Apparently putting the list on my blog isn’t doing any good. At least this way I’ll be daily reminded!!! :)

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David's Update

My brother just returned yesterday to Zlin from a three country tour. Zlin to Austria, Cyprus and Slovakia and back to base - Zlin. This was a professional (work related) trip. I got photos from Cyprus - ah!!! beautiful country... I've been drooling ever since I saw the photos.... :) They are breathtaking.

And guess what I found amongst the pictures of Cyprus...???



Exactly!!! Even in the Mediterranean they have a Fiji-an Restaurant....

Beautific Scenes - Courtesy of David







And part of the Team just chilling out ...


I just hope my Bro doesn't mind my sticking up his photos on my Blog... :)

Sorry David... I liked the photos alot!!!

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Unresistable

I just couldn't resist posting this one!!! Aren't they so adorable....

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Tips for Credit Card Holders

Here's the secret. This is a strategy constantly advocated by financial advisers: Pay off credit cards expeditiously and entirely each month. Never go beyond the interest-free 30-day grace period. Then you will be taking what the card company executives sneeringly refer to as a "free ride" - you get to use their money without paying them anything for the privilege.

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Bosses!!!

An interesting Forward!!!

When I take a long time to finish,
I am slow.
When my boss takes a long time,
He is thorough.

When I don’t do it,
I am lazy.
When my boss doesn't do it,
He is busy.

When I do something without being told,
I am trying to be smart.
When my boss does the same,
He takes the initiative.

When I please my boss,
I am apple polishing.
When my boss pleases his boss,
He is cooperating.

When I make a mistake,
I'm an idiot.
When my boss makes a mistake,
He’s only human.

When I am out of the office,
I am wandering around.
When my boss is out of the office,
He’s on business.

When I am on a day off sick,
I am always sick.
When my boss is a day off sick,
He must be very ill.

When I apply for leave,
I must be going for an interview.
When my boss applies for leave,
It’s because he’s overworked.

When I do well,
My boss never remembers.
When I do wrong,
He never forgets.

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Photos

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10 Rules to Stay Young

Received it in the mail...

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them!"

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle.
"An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

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Bosses!!!

This is not meant for me :)

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PMS

13 Things PMS Stands For:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1. Pass My Shotgun

2. Psychotic Mood Shift

3. Perpetual Munching Spree

4. Puffy Mid-Section

5. People Make me Sick

6. Provide Me with Sweets

7. Pardon My Sobbing

8. Pimples May Surface

9. Pass My Sweat pants

10. Pissy Mood Syndrome

11. Plainly; Men ****

12. Pack My Stuff

And My Favorite One.

13. Potential Murder Suspect

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Quote of the Day

Life isn't worth living... unless its lived for someone else - Albert Einstein

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Experiences!!!

I wanted to become a Doctor as in Doctor with an MBBS degree but I studied Chemical Engineering. Worked for a Chemical company in Research and Development, then started as a Process Engineer in the Cement Industry... became a Plant Engineer before moving on to Bottling Industry dealing with Water. Currently am working as a Projects Engineer in Bottling Industry focusing on Construction!!!!

What a life :)... Good diverse experiences!!!

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Main Aim - 2008

One of my Goals, towards which I am working really hard, is: A House

I have decided that this year either I'll build or will buy a House.

I bought some land in 2006 in partnership with my brother. Here are the steps involved in buying land in Fiji.

1. Find a suitable land to purchase
2. Put a deposit of 20% if one doesn't have 100% payment.
3. Sign alot of papers
• Legal Papers
• Contract
• Mortgage Papers
• Medical Reports - have to get it from Doctors
• Full credit report
  
4. Start payments on
   
5. If investment is substantial have to have a Will. To protect your investment
6. Start working on House Plans.
7. Decide on a design
8. Contact an Architect or Certified Civil Engineer to get drawing drawn up
9. Sign up for water/power/city rates
10. Submit house plans to City Council for vetting and approval
11. Give approved plans to contractors for quotes
12. Select Contractor
13. Start Building
14. House has to be inspected by Civil / Structural Engineers at every stage
15. After final inspection of completed house as per Plan - Move In.

At present I am at Stage 10 - Give for Quotes

This is supposed to be a present for my parents.

So the complete design of the house was in my Mum's hands. I did so much research getting information and house plans in but the final decision was theirs. I had never thought that I'll be back to live with them. I had given up on believing that dreams can come true. :) Anyways the plans had been vetted by the Council before I even knew that I'll be moving and it was kinda late to make any changes.

Anyway I told Mum and Dad that the next House Plan will be as per my wishes :)

This is one major major reason why I was so much into buying a camera. I want to record the entire building process, the various stages... So hopefully I'll get my camera by 18th June and just keeping my fingers crossed on getting at least a couple of quotes by then....

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Word of Advice

If the path is beautiful ask where it leads… But if the destination is beautiful don’t ask how the path is…

A beautiful saying from a great friend...

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Beautiful Story

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips.

She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.

She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God."

But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked,

"Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!

Have lunch with God....... bring chips.

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Dawn at Sea

Picture taken on 30th May 2008 at 6:13:56 A.M

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Weekend Update

Main event of the long weekend - Dad got injured!!!

Friday was a public holiday here in Fiji - Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day... Unlike other people my family is not too keen on remaining aimless for even a day. Hence unlike others we were awake at the crack of dawn - 5 A.M. armed to do as much as possible in one day!!! So after doing all the housework we ventured outdoors. Our current home has a very big yard with lots of trees in it. We have 3-4 varieties of mango trees, lime tree, lemon tree, orange tree (2-3 varieties) and 3 mandarine tree. This does not include all the vegetables, flowers, coconut or palm trees!!! Yeah I know!!! Try imagine raking the whole yard!!!

Now this is citrus season in Fiji and since we have so many trees we just had to pick the mandarines. We left the oranges for another day. :) Dad being the nimble one climbed the tree and while in the process of picking the fruits with a rod he injured his foot by rather forcefully yanking on the rod which was right above his foot!!! OOOuch!!! So from Friday he is bed ridden with a rather badly swollen foot. We tried cold compress, cold water bath with lots and lots of ice, ice pack, tried even turmeric pack, moov, sprain creams etc etc... The swelling went down yesterday but the pain is still there... He is going to the doctors today!!!

No need to say that he will no longer be going for any yard duties!!!

My friend, Prabhat's, birthday was on 31st May. Still need to get an update from him.

My brother is going for a visit to Austria, Cyprus.. etc. Currently he is studying for his Ph.D in Czech Republic so he gets to go all over Europe. Though he no longer sends any photos!!! Don't know why!!! :(

Since Dad was not in any good shape we postponed our monthly trip to the temple. If Dad is ok then we'll go this coming weekend.

Started work today and am really busy today... Hence just a straight forward update.

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