Boiling cauldrons, hiccups and start-ups

The last 20 days of June have been eventful, there has never been a dull moment. Two months of summer break had resulted in a spillage of to-dos for me. A b'day party was due for lil g who has turned 7... I go with the same joke of having a 7 year old baby :))...and one who kept asking for one unrelentingly. I gave in and planned one, only to have it postponed as she fell ill and then rescheduled the next weekend. Menu plans were drawn and redrawn and it turned out to be a fun party with a lot of neighborhood kids dropping in. For keepsakes saving the menu here - bread pinwheels, aloo bhajji, pineapple cheese cranberry kebabs (of course cherries work best), popcorn, nachos with a store bought dip, juice, and of course the cake. Mysore paak was served and was untouched.

A special mention for Big G who helped put on and take down the decorations, all of them unearthed from different corners of the house, an "a" missing here a "y" there,  coaxed into shape with tape and staplers, for a final display in this house for the party. She made chits for the pass the parcel game independently, blew the polka dot balloons and generally took over when I was mentally preoccupied with so much other stuff happening at the same time.

There was the entire visa conundrum that we I should've tackled earlier but had not before going on the holiday as the break was building up and for once I wanted an equal partnership in the process. Sigh...no such luck. As the requirements for the visa type was confirmed, it emerged that the passport validity was not enough and the ball was back in my court to begin with passport application. I have picked myself up, dusted the defeatist sentiments that could have bogged me down due to this and moved on.

I have even resolved to henceforth take up the full responsibility for any sort of paperwork in the household. Net net, I am going to be paranoid enough to renew all passports 1 year before expiry date. A lesson well learned, must say. Thereafter started an anxiety filled period when I had to first apply for the passport and only then could work on the visa. Tickets have been bought much earlier and the deadline sits on my head like a ticking time-bomb now. Passport has been a breeze thanks to the MEA and RPO, Bangalore doing an excellent job, must say. Re visa, keeping fingers crossed.

In other news, Big G has got glasses, + 0.5 point power, another task long pending on my list. Nevermind the bit about getting lost on way to hospital etc,  we have glasses now and getting used to it. Packing and sorting stuff has been going on simultaneously. So far mostly books have been parked well. It is the small stuff that one sweats, literally, like accessories for one, or such knick-knacks.
Discovered a library "People's Library", 1874, S End C Cross, JP Nagar, 3rd phase, Phone 09686025951, which is run entirely on books sourced from people/readers with an annual membership fees of Rs 100 only. Got some decent stuff for kids and adults and a few of our books have made way here as well.

Mom was hospitalized in the interim and overall situations have been fairly excessive . Even as I write this post today, on discharge my parents have gone to stay at mom's brothers place till the cook can come in. I guess we had not estimated how quickly the disease can grow and spread. Sometimes I wish this had happened in the time I was there so that my father is not facing this alone. We are looking for a full-time caregiver for her in Hubli and any leads towards the same would be appreciated.

The husband is down here on his annual holiday and I am now trying to get used to being together, believe me, it can take getting used to. But a start to that direction is being made. Which brings to mind, the word start-up. A friend has launched a new initiative for book summaries www.bookbhook.com and is looking for freelance content writers who can convert a book into a short summary. Perks include free book and a small remuneration for selected works. If interested, do write in to bookbhook@gmail.com. Also try out  https://u82f.app.link/mv2I7AD5kt.

That's all folks...writing this has helped and its turned out to be a longish post. Tomorrow is another day.