Janaki's Blog

“A party? Yeeyyyyy!” I jumped with delight when I heard there was going to be a poolside Onam party in my compound. It was Onam that day and I couldn’t help feeling excited. But alas, my joyfulness finished when I saw there was no one to play with except a boy in 8 th standard. What a waste of delightfulness!! Everybody had gone on vacation and there were only adults. I was disappointed, but soon it vanished from my face when I saw the food. Appam, friedrice, vegetable curry, porotas, chicken, prawns and salads. Yum! I am sure this is going to make a smile flicker on my face, I thought. There was also kheer for desert which made my mouth water.

“Kach .. Kch .. Kch” went my brush as I brushed my teeth. I was getting ready for bed. Just as I finished my parents suddenly called me from the drawing room. I groaned and went there. “What?” I asked sleepily. “There was suddenly a strange vibration and the door shook” they replied. “Who would want to go in the dead of the night?”    I muttered under my breath as I went out. The moon was very bright and I glanced at a helicopter which was flying very low. It also made me jump seeing it had a large flashlight attached to that. “Are they searching for an escaped prisoner?”   I whispered, my heart beating faster than usual. “Maybe” said my Dad excitedly rushing indoors to get his shirt. “What a night!” Soon the chopper was out of sight. After one final look we went inside. “Have you locked the door?” I asked nervously, looking at the windows, almost expecting to see a figure jumping in with a gun in its hand. “Yes” said Mom amused. “Don’t be scared, they are only pract...

Today I thought I should write about music because there are a lot of things I can write about it. I like songs very much. My Valyachan (uncle) is a famous singer. His name is  Sreevalsan J Menon . He sings Carnatic music and had sung in many places like Dubai, UK, Africa, America etc. He sings Bhajans too. My dad has a collection of CDs of his songs. When we go out we listen to these songs in the car. Valyachan calls me JaJanu. Sometimes when he is on TV we get excited to see him. I have seen him practicing upstairs when me and my brother will be playing downstairs, and when we want to take something from up he would smile at us. He would be singing to the tune of the shruthibox. It looks like a radio which gives us the tune of the song we want, so that we can sing with it. Miley cyrus (Hannah  Montanna) is my favourite  singer. She lives at Los Angeles. Her father is Billy Ray Cyrus. He too is a singer and plays the guitar. Miley is 18 years old. She is also an actor....

“Well, he should be here now”, said my father as we waited at the Jeddah airport on Thursday which was yesterday. We had returned the car which we rented and the man at the rent-a-car shop drove us to the airport. The airport was very spacious. We were waiting for Samer uncle who works with Dad. “He has small kids” said my Mom to me. Children? That’s good! I could play with them, but will they play with me?  Soon the uncle came. He had twin babies and a little girl named Zaina. Her brothers are Abdulrahman and Omer. They both are very sweet. One of them smiles very much and the other is serious, only sometimes he smiles. When Mom and I went to the ladies search room for security check we saw something very very funny. A woman had put her daughter down, so the police could check her. When the police started checking the lady the small girl started jumping “do that to me!”. Me and Mom rushed out giggling since our turn had finished. When we had to wait for the flight, Samer uncl...

Palm Beach is a sandwich shop, but yesterday we discovered that it also has a restaurant on the top of it.   It is a Lebanese restaurant, this was written on the top of the menu. The food was very tasty there. There was a fish tank with two gold fishes and one black fish. The stair cases were decorated with coral reefs on one side and had covering with clouds painted on it.  The food we ordered was chef’s special shrimps and Palm Beach special mixed grill. I liked the shrimps the most. The salad was put in a majestic way, so it looked very beautiful. When Dad put his spoon in it I told him not to spoil the beauty! Palm Beach was there since 1976, so I think it is one of the oldest restaurants in Jeddah. The funny thing is even if it is a Lebanese restaurant there were two waiters who were Malayalees! They asked us from which part of Kerala we are. With the shrimps they served a little rice. Mom asked if any of us wanted some. Me and Dad said “No”, “Good” said Mom, “becaus...

Kanz Obhur is a seaside restaurant in Jeddah. We had dinner there last night. We have already been there once with Biju uncle and Deepa aunty. The restaurant is very beautiful to see, especially in the night. We sat in a seat near the sea. The water was very clear and clean. I could see many stones underneath. Some little fishes swam here and there. They were gleaming silver colour in the water. There were fountains which bobbed on the water and coconut trees which had red stockings! Next to the coconut trees were lamp posts with lamps which look like fire. I was feeling very happy. Our waiter was from Kerala. He was very excited to see us and kept asking questions. I thought it was the first time he saw a malayalee in Jeddah! Before that, we went to the beach (the place which I told you where the rocks were put to stop the waves from coming in). The moonlight was shining on the waves of the red sea. A man went on the rocks to wash his feet and hands, suddenly a wave splashed again...

It was a beautiful day. We decided to have a picnic. So when I got ready Dad went to buy some food and Mom packed some things. Dad came back and waited for us, and then off we went. We took a new path, on the way there was the sea. Many people were there. Some were walking and some were sitting on huge boulders which were put to stop the sea from coming in. We kept our picnic things and food in the car and went down two steps to the beach. My father and I went on the huge boulders and sat on one of them. There were lots of crabs, small and big. The waves were very strong and they splashed against the rock. I was first scared but then I started to enjoy it. Mom was scared so she did not come but sat on the steps. Dad and I found something small, black moving thing which looks like leeches. They were on some rocks. First Dad went and then I followed, we were looking at them. Then a huge wave splashed against the rocks and came right at us! Dad and me ran, laughing and went back to ou...

This is the second time I am in Jeddah and today is the fourth day I am here.  Now it is Ramadan, Muslims do not eat during daytime. We came here for a business trip. Today as it is Friday, Dad has no office. Red sea is in Jeddah. It is also called ‘city of roundabouts’ as there are lot of roundabouts with statues. Jeddah also has the tallest Fountain in the world, the King Fahd Fountain . I have seen it 3 times. It starts after sunset. The red sea doesn’t look red even though everyone tells it does.   Last 2 days we went to see the sea . It was a beautiful sight as it was sunset.   The sea and the sky looked purple, orange, yellow and pink. There were many seagulls. A rat went into a small hole. The seagulls were heading home in a V-shape. They had a busy day catching fish. I thought how long they would have to fly as the sea is very big. In the night 2 rats came out. They scampered into their holes when they saw me coming.  We had dinner at Al-Baik , which is ...

Dear diary, There was a bird which lived on a tree that is outside of our kitchen window. It had laid 2 eggs. The bird was a bit big and was brown in colour. I used to see it every morning before I went to school. It always stayed in its nest until one day a cat ate it up! I missed the bird very much. Yesterday was Friday. So it was a holiday for dad. We played badminton, swam and went to visit a new born baby. We had bought dresses for him. The baby s name is Cyril. He is very cute. He was drinking milk when we got there. He loved 2 balloons which were on his bed. He had slept so much. He seemed to be hungry and thirsty for a long time! I like this diary. It is another one. My cousin gave it to me on her birthday. Yesterday I had a dream in that I went to a rainforest. It was very beautiful. There was a waterfall and it was very peculiar. You can just slide down the cascade and it was fun, but I slid down only once.  I could even talk to animals!   There are lots of...

Dear Diary, I am going to tell you about the school trip we had. It was to Hayat mall. We went there in my old school bus D2. When we saw Hayat mall, all of us started to shout in one voice “Hip Hip Hurray for Hayat Mall !” . We all had partners. My partner was Rakshanda. When we got down several other school buses of our school came. We all chatted happily as we went inside the mall. We went to play area where there are different rides. Sauda and S Rabia joined us. We wanted to go on the ghost train, but everyone started pushing so we couldn’t. We then went on another ride where it goes up and down. I had never gone on this ride. Believe me, it gave me nightmares!! The belt weren’t working, first of all, so we had to hold the tube which comes in front of us. Sauda didn’t want to go because she was scared. So me, Rakshanda and Rabia were on the ride. When the ride started it began to go round. Our hands were sweating. Sometimes it would go reverse and then suddenly up and down. We a...

Dear diary, Two more months and then I will be in India. Yippee! I can’t wait. I called my Grandfather today. The days are going very fast. It’s been long since I swam in the swimming pool. There were sandstorms for a few days. So the pool had to be cleaned. The water was dusty and full of leaves. We haven’t visited any new neighbours yet. I keep getting up in the morning late. I have finished reading all my storybooks. Sometime we go to Jarir Bookstore to read some books. There are some chairs where we can sit and read. There I read a book of Garfield. Here is one joke from Garfield (Pss… He is a cat) Garfield put an egg in the saucepan to fry. Suddenly the egg hatched and a chick came out. Chick :         “Mamma” Garfield:      “Look Chick, I am a boy. Boys are not mothers.” Chick:          “Dada” Now I am reading a book of Nancy Drew, The Scarlet Macaw Scandal. It is a detec...

Dear Dairy, Once Ameerah brought a real turtle to school. We all were much exited to see it. Ameerah’s old classmates came from other class to see it. We all shooed them away. The turtle was very small. He hid in his shell when he saw everyone, except Ameerah. But after sometime it didn’t go into its shell when it saw me. Many teachers got scared when they saw it. Ameerah brought it because we were learning about turtle in science. During recess, we put him on the teachers table. Ameerah had brought for it lettuce. When it was the last period if Ameerah ran with the turtle we would run after her. Ameerah asked me if I could put him on my desk. I said “Yes”.  When there is an animal in my class my friends asks me to take care of it because I am an expert vet. Last time when we went on a trip many of them bought chicks and asked me to take care of it. Some chicks were in cups so they could not bend their heads. I gave them grains and water. Ameerah’s turtles name was “chotu”. Th...

Dear Diary, Last night we went to the pool. Mother doesn’t know swimming. So she tried to practice. The water was a little too much, so when she started to kick her legs, it sent waves which went into my mouth! I have learned many swimming tricks myself. After a few days Dad is going to get some holidays. Today when we checked the news my father got a nasty surprise!! It said that if parents beat children they will go to jail . HeHeHeee!!! And it didn’t even say that if children beat parents they will be punished. Don’t you think we are lucky?  When I told this to my mother she said “If I beat you and if the government comes, then I will beat government also”, diary, she is serious. Yesterday when we returned home I ran to open the door and got a shock! A cat was staring at me, I screamed and the cat yowled. And we both ran away.

Dear diary, We will go back into the past. I have decided that after 20 years I will read this diary which stores all my memories. When I became an Ammumma I can read this to entertain myself. When I was in 3 rd , one day we went to a church. As we are not Christians we stood and watched, we didn’t go inside the prayer room. I was accompanied by my Valyachan, Valyamma, Kunji chechi, Kunjunni and two of their friends. Dad and Mom didn’t come.  We then went to an old school. I found everything peculiar. Just behind a blackboard there will be another class! There were lots of spaces. Kunjunni, my cousin brother (that’s his pet name, his real name is Narayanan and his sister’s name is Subhadra) climbed a tree. He was given help by his father. He climbed it and then looked scared. He looked funny so Kunji chechi took some pictures of him. He then leaned back and looked us as if he was lying on his bed. So she took a shot of that. Finally Appu (another pet name) jumped screaming, unc...

Now it is summer, days are long and very hoooot! Mom and dad are getting crazy because of it. The problem in the night is that first you feel very hot, but after sometime it became very cold even if you try to keep yourself warm. My mother told that I should improve my handwriting. I think I should take that romantic advice! I hate wearing glasses. It makes me feel like an old donkey! But if I am not wearing it, I can’t see anything clearly. So I am hopeless. I am glad I was not there during early human days, because I wouldn’t be able to see anything. My most favorite doll is Pinkysha. He is very cute, though I don’t spend my time with him that much. Dear Diary, today morning it is very beautiful.  Yesterday we went out and came back late. I was very sleepy, so I slept in the car. Dad had to shake me up. At home I didn’t do anything, just fell asleep as soon as my head touch the pillow.

I have many diaries like this one. But I haven’t completed them. Rachana Maa’m cats are always lazy. They love to laze. They will always be sleeping when I pass. Not a single yowl will be heard. Sometimes it just looks at us. It always keeps sleeping on different places. The dogs seem to be inside, because I have never seen them. Actually, I have seen one of them, but Rachana maa’m told that there are two. I have never seen the other one. Some of my classmates have elder brothers or sisters. They keep saying that they don’t play with them.  So, I think it is a waste of having siblings. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, I am the only one. So children in my class keep telling me that I am lucky. Because it is a big problem if your brothers or sisters are big or small. If they are small they don’t let you watch your favorite shows. And if they are big, they wont play with you because of study. Worse, smaller ones could bite you! This has happened to me many times. One day we h...

There are twenty students in my class. I wish I could finish this diary now itself. But I can’t. I am writing an adventure book. I haven’t completed it. My father had told my cousins when he went to India, so they are really excited. Today my mother sent a jalebi, two chocolate biscuits and a 'muruk' to school. They all were very delicious. I loved them all. I was first in D2 (Diary,  I am talking about my school bus). But then my father, me and my mother shifted to Baglaf Indian Compound. It is totally great. There is a large swimming pool, lots of space to play any type of game. My neighbors are Nichiket and Niharika. They are a brother and sister. They are also in Delhi Public School. It’s the school I am studying in. My parents and me are going to check the other neighbors we haven’t visited during holidays which will start next week. There is Rachana ma’m. She is a teacher in Delhi Public School. She has four hens, two dogs and two cats. I passed through their house, ...

Dear Diary, Didn’t I tell you that my father went to India for a few days ? Well, he came back today. I made a card for him, which says ‘Welcome back home’. It’s too boring in Riyadh. I wish I was in India. It is very beautiful there with all the birds and gardens. Oh Diary, all of us miss it. My father didn’t even seems to be tired after the long the journey and going for long without food. Instead of eating food, he just went to the computer and read the news! My mother had pictured him weak and hungry so she quickly prepared the food, but it turned out that he didn’t. So she had to wait for a long time. Diary, I was that astonished! He kept saying to her that he wasn’t hungry. My grandmother and grandfather had sent lots of home made foods. They were my favorites. My grandfather had even sent ‘laddoos’ and ‘jalebies’.  As they were my favorites I ate one laddoo and jalabie today. My mother ate some sweets too. My father asked if we finished all of them. So my mother said “N...

Dear Diary, My father went to India for two days. He was invited to a marriage. My exams were there so me and my mother couldn't go. Boy, I missed him very much. But the most I miss is India, I miss my relatives too. But we are going there on November. It will be winter vacation at that time. Well, we have only three exams – English, Hindi and Social Studies. I just love watching cartoons like Barbie, Tom and Jerry etc. They may be for babies, but it is very funny, so even my elder sister watches it. It is my first time writing in this diary. It’s lovely. Well, I am very excited to get my results. Even though I am not sure if I did well or not. My mother keep saying after every exam “you keep telling me it is very easy, but when we get your marks it will become real difficult” (She means when I get low marks) I like writing in this handwriting, its not my real one though. I write them all joint . I have four signatures. My secret one is .   The rest three are...