The Book Fair

I have been home-bound since last couple of months. I don’t miss going for shopping or movies or eating out, but I cannot miss a Book Sale, can I? Since the time I read this piece of news, I was coaxing my husband to take me to the Sale. Now, he never really says ‘No’ to me but somehow we were not able to plan it through. Last Sunday, which was the last day of the Sale, we finally managed to go there :-)

Though I could not spend too much time over there, as our little baby had accompanied us; I still managed to buy 6 books.

By the way, it was our son’s first visit to a Book Fair, in hopefully many more to come ;-) I am just waiting for the day when I would take the little one to Book Fairs and Book Stores. 

Pune International Film Festival 2011

Pune International Film Festival 2011 is round the corner, from 6th-13th January '11. Catch all the details here.
Hope to catch it this time. I remember I had been lucky to be around 'National Film Archive of India' during college days and had been able to attend 2 film festivals. I vaguely remember the first one was of women directors and the 2nd one was on some classics. 
But the best one was the 'FTII Wisdom Tree Film Festival' that I attended in 2003 or 2004. They were screening movies at E-Square. It was an amazing experience with movies running back to back in the adjacent screens. I remember, I had seen 6 movies in 3 days :-)

Weekend fun

This weekend was superb. Saturday was all about shopping. I bought this kitschy poster for a neat Rs 115/-, which is going to adorn one of my doors, pretty soon!

I discovered another splurging opportunity for myself. I realised that I have fascination for interesting notebooks as well, and I have actually been collecting them for sometime now! In fact, the name of my blog ‘Pen-Paper’ comes from my fascination with all kinds of stationery. I am not too much into Pens though, so no Lamy, Cross pens for me. I can happily write with a 5 rupee pen.

I visited Either Or, and absolutely loved this travel notebook but priced at over Rs 700/-, I stopped short of buying it. May be sometime later. So, I settled for a pretty hand-made paper notebook, which can fit in nicely in my handbag. I have always been accused of carrying mini-luggage with me. This reminds me of a funny incident that happened 2 years back (completely unrelated to this post, but it’s funny)


I was on an official travel to Delhi with my team. The trip was for 2 days with just a night’s stay. Everyone was carrying a suitcase. When I reached, I just had a small overnight bag with me. Everyone kept saying how smart I was and how I have planned it so well that I need not carry too many things. One of them even pointed out that his daughter, who was 4-5 year old at that time, had a bigger bag on such trips. Well, well…………….and then they saw my handbag! “No wonder”, they exclaimed. “Your handbag is as big as your overnight bag. You are keeping half your stuff in that”. The bigger my bag gets, the more ambitious I become with my stuff and eventually, the bag falls apart. I never learn, and I do get a new bag at the end!


Coming back to my happening weekend story, I also went to Crossword (yeah, even after buying 10 books just a couple of days back!). This time they have a really good Sale, 15% off on all books and extra 5% if you are a member….needless to say that I am! So, I picked up 2 books – Braking News and First Proof. It was not an impulse buy. I had been eyeing these 2 books for sometime now!


Sunday was fun too. I was totally hooked on to FRIENDS the entire day, and I have completed Season 2. Nothing works better for cheering me up instantly!

Pssst.... For people in Pune, there's a fabulous Sale going on at College of Engineering. Books are available for as low as Rs 50. I bought 5 books (including hardbound) for Rs 300 only. Quite a steal!

Image Source: Chumbak & Either Or

Paranoia

It is all so surreal. As if I will wake up one day and all this will go away like a nightmare. Just yesterday I was telling my colleague, I never thought I would see this day in office (90% of the people are in masks by the way). Even a month back if somebody would have said that we would be working at office in masks, I would not have believed it. It brings back stories of ages ago, when villages used to wash out or eaten up by a disease. Our technology has progressed and our diseases have become more complex and even more fatal.

I think the government totally missed out on declaring curfew this weekend. I have seen people moving out of the city on vacations, and it is definitely going to be dangerous. It is good that people from all classes are aware enough to wear masks while venturing into public. But every thing said and done, people are meeting other people, commuting in public transports and there is only so much precaution can you take while going out of home. In fact, there is even greater danger for people at home when some of the members go out daily. We needed a total cut-off, for this weekend atleast.

I had a great day today, for I did not wear a mask in last 24 hours! We did have a small party with a couple of friends, which I was immensely skeptical about, but then I finally let it go! Perhaps media is making me paranoid. Perhaps a little caution and precaution is enough to keep you safe.

Hope this gets over soon!

The Fear Factor

Friendship Day was good and Rakshabandhan was scintillating but Swine Flu has taken daylights out of all of us. Not so long ago, chickenguinea, Bird Flu, SARS….looked like something which happened to other people in other countries. But the ascent of Swine Flu is so palpable. I think 90% of the people on roads are wearing some or the other kind of Masks.

It started with a couple of cases in schools in Pune, then we heard how couple of schools were shut for a few days. Slowly, the disease became rampant, with every school and college closing for 7-10 days. We were still enjoying ourselves. In last 2 days, we are so gripped by the thought of Swine Flu during every waking hour that there is really no respite.

I am giving my driving classes a break for a couple of days. We even started wearing masks at office. These masks are really not the ones which are recommended (N95) but anything is better than nothing. This mask is actually out of stock in all medical shops and people are ordering these from outside. I don’t know when will I be able to lay my hands on those, till then we are all wearing the regular disposable masks. Read more on the right mask here.

The so-called good news is that the vaccine will be out by December in India. If ‘that’ is good news, then what is bad! And hey, right early in the morning, I read this news in Paper and my spirit ebbed like never before. Something needs to be done, and real fast!

The Weekend that Was!

I don’t know whether this weekend was a good one for me or a real bad one. It is all perceptual you see. So what happened?

• My Weekend started with the rashes on my wrist looking filthier (Yuck!) which did wonders for my spirit.
• I fell from scooty, when I was lost in my day dreams and suddenly got accosted with a big, unexpected pot hole. Good thing is I got minor bruises on my hand and knee, and I also got pampering and TLC from my hubby…so it was not that bad actually. Thankfully, I always wear helmet. I was so mad while coming back at the condition of the road that I hurled a lot of abuses to the Corporation.
• We had great fun watching ‘Hostel’ together with friends on TV. Although a gruesome movie, thankfully, all such scenes were cut.
• Dinner was lavish, for we and our next door friends decided to have it together, so it turned out to be bonanza……hmmmm….. Sumptuous!
• Finally on Sunday morning we went to the Gym. I’m going to be steer clear of weights, because I know I will not be able to be regular. So I just want to stick to cardio. We also planned how we will go cycling once the roads are all done. Dreams!
• We finally saw “Ice Age 3” and I slept somewhere in the middle. It was OK and since I have not seen any of the earlier ones, may be that could be the reason of my boredom.
• I had lofty plans of joining Driving school, but all went into the drain as I hurt my plan and my spirit plummeted to a new low!
• Next 2 days are going to be hectic, as I have to attend Product Shoots and also complete all the follow ups with all the vendors, give some approvals, negotiate some rates…….woooh!
• Pune is really a laid back city in all sense, even the professionalism is a little laid back. When I was in Mumbai, we were trained to be on our toes for whatever Client asked for; in Pune, despite being on the Client side, I have to be on toes with my Vendors (read agencies). People really have some high notions here. The kind of work agencies pass on to Clients would have been unimaginable for us in our ad agency in Mumbai. And after that, they have guts to cross-question us!

I remember, how we had been told that you have to be smarter than the Client. You must know all that is to know about their brand in order to inspire confidence in Client. Ah! Mumbai is definitely in different league when it comes to professionalism!

· Today I tried some fast cooking with my brand new Microwave. It is really quick. You just microwave your veggies for couple of minutes and then sauté. It really saves a lot of time.

· This week is going to be special…..won’t tell right now. Work is going to be as usual. I am looking forward to Rakhi and till now, not sure what to gift the bestest brother in the whole world J

One day @ Deccan Gymkhana

I had a lovely day yesterday. I had taken off from office due to some bank-related work (courtesy financial year end) and some work at home. Started off the day pretty much the same time, as on any weekday; except that I did not have to get ready for the office. Till 10 am, did some usual stuff at home, breakfast, etc; then went off to the bank. When I stepped into bank, it dawned on me that I’m not the only one who does everything at the last minute. I was welcomed by a huge crowd on every counter of the bank. I had even forgotten where to get the form for cash deposits (the last time I came to the bank, to deposit money in PPF was last February….again at the last minuteJ). Somehow I got hold of the form, filled it and joined the queue.

 

 

While standing in the queue, I had an interesting observation. SBI has written “Cash receipts” at the counter where we need to ‘deposit’ cash; and “Cash payments” where we need to ‘withdraw’ cash from. That shows how ‘Customer-oriented’ they are! Everything is written from their perspective. Anyways, I waited and waited, shifting from one foot to another and fiddling with my form, cash and purse…..suddenly when 3 people were in front of me in the queue, I realized, the form which I used last year for depositing cash, looked a little different. I checked with the guy behind me….2 guys left in front of me……he said there is a different form for PPF deposits. Great! I ran to the specified counter. Checked with people standing there, they pointed towards a form…just when I snatched it, an aunty was about to lay her hands on that last form kept there. I said a sheepish “Sorry”; and rushed back to the queue. The guy in front of me moved towards the counter, I told myself, stay calm and fill it carefully; so bang on time I completed my form and finally deposited cash.

 

Everything done, I came out of the bank and wondered what to do next! Although I had to get back home for some repair works, but I can’t do that, can I? Coming 11-12 kms and not checking out any bookshop!

 

Well, they have closed down Crossword at J.M. Road, otherwise hands down, I would have gone there. But anyways, I had a nariyal-pani and thought, if I’m here, why don’t I cross the street and go to F.C. Road (dear old Fergusson College Road in Pune). There’s a huge stall of magazines near Sagar Arcade circle. So I walked upto there, and saw every possible magazine staring at me. Somehow I limited myself to 2 magazines – ‘PEOPLE’ and ‘Society Interiors’; since I already get FEMINA and BBC Good Homes at home.

 

Then I thought if I’m already here, why don’t I walk across to the Hong-Kong Lane. I have not been there since ages. There’s a small Second-hand bookshop hidden inside Hong-Kong lane. I wanted to buy so many things in HK Lane but stopped myself. At the book-shop, checked with the guy if he had any book on ‘Mahabharata’, but he had only YUGANTAR, that too in Marathi. He had usual Mills and Boons, Sidney Sheldons and the likes. I took his card and checked if he would take second-hand books. He answered in affirmative and said he needs to check the books first. He said, you seem to be a serious reader (ahem..ahem..), why don’t you go to POPULAR Bookshop, just across the road. Hmmm, well, I thought if I’m already here, why don’t I check it out. So there I went inside POPULAR, and checked if they had any book on Mahabharata. Guess what? I got Kamala Subramaniam’s Mahabharata for 500 bucks. It was completely unplanned, and it just happened. I really liked that bookshop. It was so refreshingly different from Crossword, who are so in-your-face with their marketing. Crossword always has a predictable stock of books; but POPULAR, although not very big, has variety.

 

I came out of POPULAR with a sense of accomplishment, then I thought may be I should go to Venus Traders and get myself a sheet of hand-made paper as well for the collage I’m planning. So, I went carrying my huge purse (actually it is too big to be a purse), 2 magazines, a huge novel and my helmet. It was so hot but I was feeling extremely elated. I have not shopped like this since such a long time. Just walking into any shop without any planning and thought, and buying stuff!

 

 

When I came out of VENUS, I was totally dehydrated. Quickly, I had another nariyal-paani and a glass of orange juice; and came back home.

 

It was an amazing day. I did not mind the heat, not even the heavy stuff I was carrying around. Sometimes I think such moments are really more enjoyable when you do not plan things out but they happen in the most wonderful way because actually, how many times do we really live in the moment -- either we spend time regretting or reminiscing past or planning future! 

Go Book shopping in Pune!

For a Book lover, who is obsessed with books (yeah, they are different things), it is important to know the best Book shops in town and when they hold their Sale. So one can plan the purchase. Therefore, for the benefit of all book lovers in Pune, today I would share information on where to shop for books in Pune. Trust me I have been to almost all of them and I always keep looking for Sale and good bargains.

Check out my list. I am sure it will benefit you.

Crosswords: They have their Annual Book Sale somewhere in August – September every year.

- ICC Trade Towers, Senapati Bapat Road (one of the biggest and best in Pune; they also have a BRIO outlet inside the Store, so that you can have good coffee while you read)

- Sohrab Hall, Junction of RBM-Cannaught Road, Behind Pune Railway Station (last time I went there, there was a CCD outlet inside the store. Because you never know what could happen over coffee!)

- Renaissance, J.M.Road, Near McDonalds (you can also check out bargains outside this Crossword)

- E-Square, University Road (It is inside the multiplex, so that you can browse through some good books while you wait for your show)

- City Pride, Kothrud ( almost all the major multiplexes in Pune have Crossword inside, so as to give you value for your time)

- Supreme Centre, Near Ozone, Aundh (It is that tunnel kind of store—unidirectional, but houses a lot of books. So when you are shopping for groceries next door in Ozone, pick some books and magazines for weekends)

- Premiere Plaza, Next to McDonalds, Chinchwad (I think this is the only Crossword store in Pune, where I have not been. It has opened recently for the book lovers in Pimpri-Chinchwad)

- Gold Adlabs, Kalyaninagar (another one in one of the biggest Multiplexes in Pune. Good Movies. Good Books. Good Shopping at Lifestyle next door! What else can you ask for?

Landmark: Address: (Next to Dorabjee's), Opposite Magnum Mall, Moledina Road, Camp.
I personally think Landmark is amazing. It is exhaustive and thorough. You have books for every topic. For example, in Crossword you have general section of Fiction or Indian Fiction. Landmark has sections called Humour also. It is much easier to locate a book. Usually, Landmark runs a Book Sale in the month of September – October. Actually, they are running one right now, which is on till 2nd October ‘07. They keep their Sale low key, for whatever reasons. Also, for those who think it is Expensive to buy books from shops, there’s a book stall right outside the Landmark, where you get loads of books in bargain prices.

The Word Book shop: Address: Boottee Street, Camp Pune, Tel.: 2631214 / 2633118.
I have heard that this book shop had catered to the Pune Book lovers, much before the Crosswords and Landmark came into picture. It always stocked the best books of the season. It has a loyal set of customers. The owners give their personal attention to the shop and are willing to source the books, if it is not available already. It carries 10% discount throughout the year.

Book World: Address: Basement, Sagar Arcade, Fergusson College Road.
It is a small Book Corner, not really a shop experience here. Books are stacked from floor to roof. But they have huge collection. You can go there only if you know it is there. But it is worth visiting, as I have always found any book on any topic here. It is almost inconspicuous in its presence. You might also get some second hand books in this place, if you want to save some money. There is also a book corner, right outside its entrance, where you can get some bargain buys. Supposedly, Book World also holds an Annual Sale, promising 10-15% Discounts; but I don’t know when they do that. Need to keep a close watch there!

Hong Kong Lane: Address: Near Garware Bridge, Opp. Chitale Bandhu, Deccan Gymkhana.
If you want to buy or sell second hand books, then you have to check out Hong Kong lane. It has a small corner, where several popular books are piled up. Those who do not know what to do with the books you have already read but do not really want to keep; then look no further. Come to Hong Kong lane, sell your old books and get yourself new ones.

Danai Bookshop: Address: Taj Blue Diamond, Bund Garden Road. Tel.: 2625555.
It is a small Book shop in one of the city’s 5-star hotels. Mostly, it attracts the Blue Diamond crowd and people from Koregaon Park or Osho Ashram—mostly the foreigners. It is done up in classic White, which gives it an aura of its own. It is a small place for just picking up something off the shelf. Don’t expect to find any particular book here. But yes, they do have lots of international magazines, quite aptly; considering that they get a lot of crowd for those.

Popular Bookshop: Address: Deccan Gymkhana, Tel.: 25678327.
It is a small bookshop on the intersection signal, which joins JM Road, FC Road and Bhandarkar Road. If you have seen Chitale Bandhu of Deccan, just keep walking towards FC Road, on your left handside is Popular Bookshop. It also stocks popular Hindi and Marathi books. This air-conditioned bookshop enjoys a loyal clientele over the years and even 3rd and 4th generation customers visit the shop often. The Shop supposedly runs a Sale during Diwali every year, and they also have Bargain Counters where books are sold at half the price. So check out this cozy, little Book Shop in Diwali. I know I am going to.

International Book Service: Address: S No 759/5, Deccan Gymkhana.Tel: 25677405.
It is one of the favorites with Puneites, who love its old world charm. It stocks books on all topics but you would not find the luxury of lounging here. It recently completed 70 years and enjoys the attention of a set of loyal customers. Only problem is that it is closed in afternoons and on Sundays. Well, I am yet to check out this book shop but I think it is going to be worth visiting. So, here I come!