Starter for 10

So, T appears to have tagged moi in the 10-things-which-make-me-happy taggage. So in the good spirit of procrastination I have compiled a list of bliss inducing wonderfulness in mostly random order.

1) Sri Lankan Food- As T very rightly pointed out “food made in Sri Lanka” be it Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mongolian or even an extra-creative spicy seafood pizza, food from home is the ambrosia which I miss dearly when I’m away, sometimes feebly try to recreate to no avail like the Great Kavum Debacle of 08 and Kottu a la St. Andrews, and is on top of my list when I go back home and attempt to get through as much home cooked sweet and sour prawns and Chinese Dragon Hot Butter Cuttlefish as I can possibly consume.

2) Expression- Of the artistic and written kind. I’m one of those socially awkward, verbally challenged types who gets through conversations (other than those in the comfort zone of friends) with a considerable sprinkling of “er..”s, “um…”s and “does-that-make-sense”s. I’m also currently working on exorcising “like” from my vocabulary and I’m not sure that’s going too well. Writing however, is a whole new story because it gives me one of those weirdly content feelings of being able to evoke thoughts and sentiments I lack the skill to express verbally. Similarly art makes me insanely happy, in the finding your karmic crux kind of way with my ability to simply retreat into lines and colour (ok so I do sound a bit hippie now). Be it impasto painting on a 3′x4′ canvas with acrylics, a delicate postcard size watercolour with the patience of a “1″ Apple sable brush, or an inky doodle of flowers and vines in the notebook margin to curb boredom during a lecture, drawing feels like the centre of my own little universe and that indeed is my happy place.

3) A good story- Either in the context of an amazing film, a great book, an addictive TV series (the latest obsession would be Greek thanks to Bronte), a funny incident, small-world story or even a tirade spoken over a cup of coffee. A good story is happiness in words. (Also refers to the ingenious title of the post- based on the University Challenge centred Starter for 10 starring James McAvoy. Definitely worth watching if you’re planning a weekend viewing!)

4) Music- I’m quoting an old post, when I say that good music simply strikes our heartstrings with the empathetic touch of a perceptive note, in such an intimate and personal manner which can never be expressed in words. Music completes me. Little makes me happier than the feeling of nostalgia evoked by hearing a song.

5) Happy childhood memories spent with my late grandmother and the Sunday afternoon sports, politics and newspaper discussion with the grandfather intermittent with Word Power Quizzes from the Readers Digest.

6) The feeling of accomplishment- Anything from a good grade, to having really felt that I made a difference to someone makes life seem just a little more hopeful everyday.

7) Lasting friendships- Long conversations about life, growing up, reminiscing about the good old days, wondering about what is to come, intellectual debates, banter, list-making, swapping music, movie marathons, film reviews, comfort in silence, shopping trips, escapades, coffees, ice cream at Il Gelato, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, late-night pseudo-philosophical moments, sleepovers, lengthy phone calls, 4 hour msn convos, weekend trips, collective histories, practical jokes, annual December fireworks, laughs, giggles, nicknames, mockery, tears, and that feeling of complete safety in the hands of those who would never hesitate to go out of their way to do something for you, just as you would do anything for them. Love you guys xx

8 ) Happy Memories- I think it sums up pretty much everything I’ve mentioned before but reminiscing about the good old days through a taste, an old doodle, a song you haven’t heard in years and those many years at school

9) New discoveries- Words, Facts, Objects and places i.e. I love to shop and I love to travel What else can I say?

10) Coffee- Seriously… I get grumpy when I’m low on caffeine and sugar

So I guess I shall be tagging Songshards, Cerno and Hot Chocolate (hoping that she’ll consider reviving her blog again post graduation).