Dear Ricky Thomas Ponting

Ricky Thomas Ponting, 37, the captain along with Stephen Waugh, who changed the face of Australian Cricket in World Cricket. He continued Stephen Waugh's dream of making the Australian cricket team- the Invinsibles. He is the second highest scorer in international cricket today, after Sachin Tendulkar. Over and above, he was my favourite captain and second favourite batsman and the best fielder ;) Ricky Thomas Ponting, I am thoroughly going to feel this void when I see new energetic blokes playing in the Australian squad, I will miss your energy, what you brought to the field. Your command as a captain, which I have been missing for 2 years now, your support to pup as the captain, you. Hell I will miss you!

I remember seeing you as a captain for the first time against England 2002 and ever since then, I always followed you, have a poster hanging on my room wall where I was. Your captaincy won my heart! Then came your batting: pull shots were unstoppable, your sixes couldn't stop once you started them, your runs didn't stop once you started them, you were incredible! Then I saw your fielding: had never seen anyone apart from Jonty Rhodes who fielded the way you did. Hit the ball accurately on the stumps, and there... The batsman is runout. Caught some unbelievable catches, stopped some unstoppable shots. There u were: an ideal cricketer who anyone could idolise!
And then there was your firm attitude as a captain, your confident body language as a batsman, your nice little mind games before the match, which many hated, but I loved it. Because it takes courage to be what you were and are, it takes courage to retire on your own, to take a call at a point in your career when you know it can be the end from the selector's side. I loved your courage, courage to declare a match when others may feel what has he done? Your confidence was just there, confidence in your team mates,confidence in yourself.

I personally got to see you thrice, India vs Australia 2003 in India, champions league finals, Mumbai 2004 and India vs Australia finals 2007. I don't remember much of your knock, but I do remember observing you and your concentration prematch, during the match, how you encourage young Michael Clarke to go and bowl spin to remove Sachin Tendulkar in 2003.. Yes, I know you as that.
I had a great experience when I went for a tour at Lords, getting to sit where you always sit in the dressing room is a WHOA feeling for a fan, an experience of a lifetime. For a fan, it maybe the closest he or she can get to the idol. Glad I was privileged to experience that.

I would like to say when I saw your press conference today, I could still see that glitter and glimmer in your eyes as always, which can be seen in a person always eager to do something new, learn something more. And I could also see the maturity which you always carried with you for every decision you made on field. Thank you sir, for all that you gave us, gave cricket. Without you, I don't think I could be a great Australian cricket fan what I am today, and a proud one :)

Love and respect,
A fan from India :)

Living it up for just ME

Its been a month since I am away from the comforts of life- all the pampering, ready made, spoon fed things which fortunately, I did not take for granted. Just that you need to appreciate every bit of you life in certain ways which are not necessary overt, it can just be a "feeling of realisation" when your mom gets a packet of your favourite chips/ chocolate just for you amidst all of the hustle bustle of the supermarket. That realisation comes to life when you learn to return the same appreciation when you are away from home. A small thank you email also means a lot to the opposite person- be it your parents, grandparents, friends, cousins whoever!

Coming back to the bit where I spoke about staying away from home. Besides what I mentioned above, you also learn how to be completely on your own. No permission to go out of home may bring a few smiles and wicked smiles on some people's faces but I can tell you, that wicked smile will last for a few days. You get your share of independence but how you make proper use of it is totally on you. Again, this is one of the challenges of living independently. This does not mean never enjoy, it means enjoy independence with a pinch of awareness of why are you staying alone, away from home. That should do it! ;)

Shopping alone:
I always loved to shop alone in India also and till now, I am enjoying marketing- TESCO, weekly market has its own charm. Buying the required, then putting it into account, totalling the account for the month..that is independent living. Its a learning process all together!

Cooking alone:
The second thing I enjoyed in India- cooking (credit: Masterchef Australia- always!) Cooking for oneself is enjoyable unless you go wrong somewhere, you have to eat that all by yourself! :P Cooking for friends is something I will always enjoy (have to make sure nothing goes wrong here...so always stick to known things or recipe book!!) Prior grocery shopping also has some fun elements in it.

Studies:
Nothing like how we would "mug up" in MU. Education here is totally research based, they want to explore areas which we would love to explore and go deep into it so that we can pursue our area of interest for our Phd ;) Love reading research papers, asking questions to myself and then finding answers myself. This is just the first month, have 9 more months of such things coming up, looking forward to spend each work hour in that way!

Travel:
London, Woking, Windsor, Leicester and Loughborough and still counting... Intend to go to Nottingham after 18th Nov on one of the weekends. Knowing a new place is learning about a whole new culture, directions, language, food and way of life. Its a good passtime to have! 2 Things I chose Loughborough- Studies and the amount of beautiful places around the town ;) So, 1 travel,1 month is expected-- Railcard- total vasooli ill do ! :P

Videos:
I love going around alone so that I can take as many videos I want to, experiment with as many pictures, spend quality time at each place... That is independent life for me!

I am living it up!! Having fun, loving life- Independently!!!!

DjokerNole!!! #1

A small tribute to my role model in Tennis:

The first time I saw you play,
You were not a #1 on grass or clay,
But you were my idol since that very day
and today Nole, for everyone you are number 1, here to stay.

The last night's victory was so neat,
Emotions ran high when you achieved the 'feat'
the Wimbledon you won and Rafa faced defeat,
and you ate the grass, which was such a treat ;)

Watched you for 5 years and a Lot more to come,
More Grand Slams, more imitation fun,
More wins and many others you will stun,
For everything you gave us fans, thanks a ton :) :)

Cheers from India!!!

The cricketer who sold his Ferrari

I only could think of one question "WHY??" Why did Master Blaster sell his Ferrari? It was gifted to him by a Legend himself - Michael Schumacher. You heard it right- GIFTED. And then selling away the same Ferrari is what I found, very ridiculous.. Today's Times of India front page photo-- "One legend meets the other" yeah, Sachin meets Roger Federer (respect!)... Years back when Sachin met Schumi, TOI had a similar front page article.. and an addition to it was the Superb Dream car FERRARI which Schumi gifted Sachin. Wow, wasnt that everyones reaction to the news.

          There would be two possible reasons for the WOW:
          1. Because it is a Ferrari, not any ordinary car which Sachin 'owns' now.
           2. Because he was GIFTED a Ferrari by none other than MICHAEL SCHUMACHER.
  Now, if someone like Schumacher would have gifted me a FERRARI, I would never ever given it away. Forget Schumi, even if Sachin would have given me a small pen, or an autograph, it would have been my most treasured possessions. Its all about RESPECT and ADMIRATION that we fans have for our Legends. This was not even like gifting the GIFT you have to someone else. He SOLD it!!!
         I had respect for Sachin, will still have for he is the only Indian cricketer I respect. But this is like NOT DONE! And our dear newspapers have put this news under the carpet. Even the ever pushy and sensationalizing Hindi news channels never came up with a 30 minutes Special about-- "Kyun Sachin Ne Apni Ferrari Bech Daali" or some thing like that. Anyway, a small letter to our Mumbai Blaster!

Dear Sachin, we would have loved to see that Ferrari running on Mumbai roads. Remember you did so much to clear the customs of the car. Why did you sell it. Dont just shove the news by saying "I have nothing to say on this". Please! Well, you would have had some level of attachment with the Ferrari right? I mean it was with you for such a long time and also because Michael Schumacher gave it to you :) It is too late to think about it, but I am sure you must have sold it after thinking a lot!
         I guess most of the fans would echo the same thought.
                    I guess Roger Federer did not give him a Rolex watch because Fedex reads newspapers :D :D
                                                                                                             Cheers!!! xo

Habibi Barack Obama, #OsamaDead

Osama Dead!! Wasnt he already, Ill catch up with the whole news and get back here!

What is the Jan LokPal Bill???

What is the Jan Lokpal Bill and  why is it important?

The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's Ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body  that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.

Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and present Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission.

Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and other known people like Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Anna Hazare and Mallika Sarabhai are also part of the movement, called India Against Corruption. Its website describes the movement as "an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurize the Government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption."

Anna Hazare, anti-corruption crusader, began a fast-unto-death today, demanding that this bill, drafted by the civil society, be adopted. The website of the India Against Corruption movement calls the Lokpal Bill of the government an "eyewash" and has on it a critique of that government Bill. It also lists the difference between the Bills drafted by the government and civil society.
A look at the salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill:
1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up.

2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.

3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.

4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.

5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.

6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month's time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.

7. But won't the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won't be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

10. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.

Courtesy- Pranati Bapat Via Email..Thanks :)

Dream on! Next Dream-- London Olympics 2012

My one dream of going for a Cricket World Cup Finals was fulfilled this year :)) My next dream, London Olympics 2012. And this time I dont just want to go and watch as a spectator, I want to work as an intern or as a sports officer at the village. This dream will give me a great head start for my dream job. My fingers are crossed :)
Dreaming out of the limits and levels of a perfect lifestyle is a little difficult to do and I am taking a risk of getting out of the comfort zone of having a 9-5 job, earning a consistent salary, coming back home and resting for the night. I dont think I will be entering such a lifestyle after entering a field of Sports Psychology. As it is said, it will not be an easy path to mix career and interest but, I am willing to take the risk. There are many lucky people whose interest and careers go hand in hand and also, the career field gives a great lifestyle and pay package right from the start. I known just one thing, I am going for this career and will strive to get the best in the field.

Need to get in touch with Sports and Exercise Psychologists Immediately!! Anyone out there???