Navaratri (Golu) 2010

Our sixth Navaratri in Birmingham. (எங்க ஆத்து கொலு)

As usual this year also we had a great navaratri. As the photo explains, there were lots of new dolls(bommai) added to our golu (thanks to Raji atthai for sending those by post and thanks to the postal guys for handling the same with care). The hightlight for this year was two new sets of Dasavatharam, Narthana Krishnar, Veeraraghava perumal and a big kalyana set. This year Vedhika has grown big to understand as what is going on in the house and she was instumental in having a zoo.

It is just 40days after Veebha has delivered Vedanth, but she was decisive in having this year's golu as well in a grand manner. Vedhika was dressed up differently on each of the nine days with great enthusiasm. Veebha and Vedhika went to almost all our friends house to invite them.(எங்க ஆத்துல கொலு வெச்சுருகோம் , come and take vetla pak - Vedhika's version of personal invite). Vedhika did invite some of her classmates as well to this years golu.

All our friends visited our golu and Vedhika offered tamboolam to everyone who had visited and some nice gifts to the little ones.

Maama and Maami (Veebha's appa and amma) were with us this year and they really enjoyed Vedhika's dressups and our navaratri. All the guests were serverd with nine different sundals prepared by Maami on all the nine days.

Vedhika had a very busy day on this Vijayadasami. She has officialy started her Education(Akshabyasam by Maama at home),Classical Music (taught by Mrs.Vijayashree Sriram) and Bharathanatiyam (taught by Mrs.Smita Deshpande).

Once again Veebha and Vedhika has done it. Hope Vedanth joins
them in the coming years with right spirit.

Arrived in good condition.... but delayed by two days!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, the expected due date for Veebha to deliver the tummy baby(Vedhika calls so) was on 4th Sep 2010. But Veebha delived a gorgeous baby boy "Vedanth" on 6th september 2010 @ 7:03pm UK time. Stayed back in the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital for post delivery recovery and reached home on 8th Sep at around 7:30pm. Vedhika was too exited to recieve the baby. Punyojanam(formal naming cermony) held on 16th Sep and we have named him as Vedanth alias Rengarajan. We followed the same way of punyojanam as we have done for Vedhika. Ramesh mama family were present on that day to grace the occation. Now Vedhika is slowly stopped calling tummy baby and stated telling his name Vedanth. Our house is almost filled with guests everyday. I was on paternity leave for the first two weeks (will come to know on the salary day whether it is a paternity leave or LOP). So it was bit easy for me to drop and pick up Vedhika from school, she has started her Reception which is a full time school this september. Life is changing slowly as all three of us have to accomodate ourselves according to the new born. Toucwood, I have to say here Vedhika is cooperating a lot(atleast in the begining weeks). Maama and maami are tooooooo busy with the houehold. Think Veebha is now bit more experienced in handling the baby (i can feel that). And I am sure that she is happy expect for that pathiya sapadu. As per maami (including my amma, patti, kollu patti etc.,) the pathiya sapadu will give more strength to Veebha after three months of delivery. I am respecting that as they are following that for generations (fool proof and tested method) and definitely not going to end on the negative side.
Hope Veebha recovers quickly and start driving the Vauxhall Zafira car we have bought for her on 19th August.

Graduation Ceremony

Yes! Vedhika has graduated on 17th July 2009, at the age of three and half……She has completed her Preschool.

I was surprised when I first saw the invitation from her “OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE PRE-SCHOOL”. Yes it was an invitation to attend the graduation ceremony on 17th of July 2009.

The ceremony started at around 10:00am. There was a small introduction by Ann Marie, the head teacher about the ceremony. All the kids marched into the ceremony hall with hundreds of flashes on them. They assembled on the dais with the help of their teachers. Vedhika was right at the centre in the first row, sitting next to her friend Anupama.

On the command from the Head Teacher/Program Conductor the kids started singing rhymes (specially trained). A pianoist was in place to synchronize the kids who were singing on their own rhythm. Vedhika even bypassed the pianoist and was singing rhymes louder on her own (nice to see and hear).

The teachers distributed the hats (traditional black hats for the ceremony) to all the kids. Veebha helped Vedhika to wear the hat with full resistance from Vedhika’s “Rettai Kudumi”. It was fun to see that. Kids were proud and they received their certificate, mentioning their successful completion of their Pre-School.

What next…. Photo Session. Yes, we struggled a lot to take one good photograph of Vedhika with here hat in place and certificate on her hand. Myself and Veebha managed to take a snap with the newly graduated girl after some promises (what else... chocolates after the photo session).

Lunch Time.
Parents were asked to bring some sandwiches/snacks/sausages etc for the gathered parents and kids for the lunch. Veebha managed to do some bread pizza (of course with the help of Vinod… just kidding) in the morning. Vedhika took her mom’s help (identify the Veggie items) to choose her lunch from the arranged buffet. I have to mention here about the appreciation Veebha got for her bread pizza. Every one who ate the dish praised her for the perfection and the taste.

Raffles tickets were sold. Veebha spent a couple of pounds in that and as usual she did not get any prize. But she was happy and proud enough (I am not exaggerating) to leave the compound with her proud daughter who had her graduation some time before.

Hats off to the “OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE PRE-SCHOOL” teachers team who have arranged for this programme. Vedhika gave all the teachers a greeting card with her name printed on it (with the help of her amma) and did not forget to take a photograph with all the teachers.

And we too personally thanked all the teachers individually for all the knowledge Vedhika has gained from the preschool. We are really thankful to one and all as we have only good memories as far as Vedhika’s time in the preschool is concerned.

Vedhika has to wait another two months before she start her nursery in the Blossom Field Infant School (Big Akka School as far as Vedhika is concerned).

*It would be nice if the “Traditional Hat Toss” was included in preschool graduation ceremony schedule.

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