HOSPITALITY.. to the highest level..

There are times and occasions in life when you just know that the powers that be are smiling down on you.. and that you are blessed beyond measure.. I have been overwhelmingly blessed to have felt that way for the last 50 days!

Yes.. it has been truly magical.. the last 50 days of my life! I was on holiday with friends.. we travelled out of their city.. came back home.. travelled again out of their country.. and came back home again.. and now I'm finally on my way back home!

Family (theirs.. whom I have pretty adopted as mine too) came to visit.. The house was full of family.. friendship.. food and fun and it was truly fabulous.. we were all together.. and then each of us did our own thing as well whenever we felt like it..

It's kind of incredible when you think of ten (yes.. TEN) different ages and temperaments all having fun under the same roof.. but that is exactly how it was..

The hostess with the MOSTEST.. the lady of the house.. is the most relaxed person.. she is Superwoman (as I think most women who live in the Western world are).. everyone wakes up when they want.. everyone eats when they want.. everyone is free to do whatever they like! 

She is a phenomenal cook and her kitchen and larder are wide open.. just help yourself to whatever you like from an extensive variety of nuts.. fruit.. dessert.. chocolate.. ice cream.. bread.. cheese.. juice.. soft drinks.. and I could go on and on! 

The host and head of the family is warm friendly and a great conversationalist in addition to being a devout Buddhist who loves reading and then discussing spirituality.. we had some amazing conversations which I will cherish for always!

The daughter of the house is gorgeous both outside and in.. a masterchef herself she is charming helpful and has a hysterical sense of humour! She is extremely creative (like her mother) and has a definite flair for the dramatic which makes for an entertaining atmosphere!

The son of the house studies at University but I got to spend some time with him since he was on a short break after finishing his summer internship.. Quiet for the most part but extremely bright and a phenomenal Taboo and Rummikub player.. really put me under pressure to do my best!

And that brings me to the last (but by no means the least) two most precious members of the family.. the puppies! Adorable is an understatement.. playful frisky gentle and always hungry or else up to something.. they are the heart of the house and rightly so! 

We did just about everything.. shopping.. faffing.. going for massages.. pampering sessions at the salon and nail spa.. lolling around chatting.. sharing life experiences and giving each other life lessons.. really!!

Their home is a space of caring.. sharing.. warmth.. laughter.. gentle teasing.. silly jokes.. and full of positive energy! It was such a privilege and blessing to have spent seven weeks with them (which is also my longest holiday ever)! 

Bonds have strengthened.. mutual respect has been cemented and the love and affection have only grown! At no point did I ever feel the tiniest bit homesick.. but am obviously delighted to finally be going home to my own little bed now!

Am not naming names but this level of hospitality is rare and you have to be really lucky to experience it! Of course I am super impressed that they could cope with me and all my masti and incessant giggles and crazy jokes for seven weeks and have issued an open invitation to go and stay whenever I like as well! (some people like to give themselves grief!!)

Thank you my wonderful family.. so very much.. and remain blessed because thats exactly what you deserve.. today tomorrow and always! Missing the energy and positivity and puppies and all of you so very much already.. but I carry you all with me in my heart! God bless and much love always!! ❤️ 

Thank you for reading (as always) and do remember tonadd your name at the beginning or end of your comment (should you choose to write one)!

FRIENDSHIP DAY.. is a wonderful opportunity!

So today is another one of those very special red letter days in the year for me! For most people it is Friendship Day while for me.. it is a wonderful opportunity!

It is an opportunity to acknowledge and be grateful for the blessing of pure clean and solid friendships in my life! 

Being single and having lost both my parents for many years now.. life could have gotten very lonely and depressing.. had it not been for my friends..

Genuine friends are the people I can't imagine my world without.. the ones who always show up.. and just know when I need them!

Real friends are the people whose souls are connected inextricably to mine.. and that's the way I want to keep them..

Solid friends aren't the ones who say good things to my face.. they are the ones who won't believe the bad things said about me behind my back!

Pure friendships are the ones where there are no expectations from each other.. but integrity to for and with each other is a "default setting"..

Clean friendships are the ones where every conversation is rooted in love care and mutual respect..

True friendships are the ones where you are "partners in crime" and keep each other on the "straight and narrow" simultaneously! 

We don't need a multitude of friends to navigate life happily but we do need a few for sure..

We need them to keep our spirits upbeat and buoyant especially during difficult times.. 

We need them to help us keep our faith in ourselves strong.. especially at the times we don't feel so confident..

We need them to make sure we get to double the joys and halve the troubles..

We need them so that they have us as sounding boards.. sheet anchors and anchors during the storms of life..

We need them so thatour faith in the essential goodness of human nature remains intact!

We need them so we can be witness to the events of their lives and they are witnesses to the events of ours..

Best friends are the ones you can call and say "I'm hungry and coming over.. what is there to eat?" or "Life feels crappy today.. come over" or "No one understands my words.. how do you understand my silence"? or simply "My life is so much better because you're in it"

And then there are the friends who you HAVE to talk to everyday.. because your day doesnt feel complete otherwise!

All those of you who qualify in any or all of the above categories know who you are.. so for a change I won't add your namrs here and embarrass you.. but Happy Friendship Day to you all and to all those of you reading!

Know that you are truly loved appreciated and cherished for being who you are in my life.. and that I am so blessed and grateful to know count and love you as a special friend! 

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to share my life..time.. thoughts.. words.. feelings.. love and life with you!

Thank you as always for reading and do please add your name at the beginning or end of your comment (should you choose to write one)!