When you have a large extended family or live in a close-knit community that holds strong traditions and values often any major/minor decisions that you make bring with them the stinking undertone of what will people think? For example: quitting your job with no backup plan, leaving your degree halfway through to go travelling, marrying a middle-aged Rasta because you … More What Will People Think?!
In celebration of my 24th year on this earth (eek!) I thought it would be fun to compile a list of random and ridiculous facts about myself to share with you. So hold on to your hats and prepare to be educated folks, because Small Town Girl 101 is officially in session! Without further ado, let’s begin … More Birthday Vibes
So my family all jetted off to India yesterday. They’re away for two weeks to attend a wedding in Punjab, but sadly I couldn’t join them because I’ve reached the limit on my annual-leave allowance at work. Now I say ‘sadly’ but, cards on the table, I wasn’t really that upset about it. From the second that their tickets were booked, I … More Home Alone
Diwali, aka ‘the festival of lights’, is notoriously celebrated by Hindus all over the world. But why exactly do they celebrate it? To put it plainly and simply they mark this special day in honour of Rama and Sita and their long-awaited return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of the evil demon king, Ravana. Lamps … More Black Diwali
In the last year or so I’ve had a massive epiphany: my parents are not perfect. They’re not always right and they don’t always do the right thing. Ok, you’re probably sitting there thinking wow, did you just clock on to the fact that Santa Claus isn’t real either? But seriously, it’s been a big realisation … More Parents
When you wake up on a Saturday morning to the sounds of the house-phone ringing every 10 minutes and the vacuum cleaner being dragged violently around the living room, you know it’s going to be one of those weekends. You know the ones I mean, those Saturdays/Sundays that come around every so often when a … More Keeping Up Appearances…Punjabi Style!
A few days ago a fellow blogger kindly re-blogged one of my posts on his site. He also included a few lines in which he referred to me as a being an ‘Indian university graduate’ and that really got me thinking. Whilst I may have been raised by parents who both emigrated from India and have … More A Nationality Conundrum
An explosion of exotic-coloured outfits: mango orange, ruby red, peacock blue, emerald green Glossy tresses of black hair are flicked back and forth in conversation Sparkling bindis are centred between immaculately shaped eyebrows Bright almond-shaped eyes are lined with thick black kohl Rosy, soft cheeks brush familiar faces when meeting and greeting Cherry lips part to reveal warm, … More The Beauty Of Indian Women
Sikhism is one of the youngest and most widespread religions in the world. I’ve lived my whole life with the knowledge that I’m a born-follower of this religion, I am a Sikh. From a young age I would accompany my mum to the Gurdwara (temple) either for religious programmes held by friends and family, for festivals … More Religion Vs Culture: Being Sikh Vs Being Punjabi
It’s safe to say that I have been a fan of Bali Rai’s works of fiction for many years now, for over a decade in fact! Since the days of (Un)Arranged Marriage (2001) and Rani and Sukh (2004), the Leicester-born fiction author captured my full attention with his writing that provides an insight into the … More Book Review Of City Of Ghosts By Bali Rai
Just A Small Town Girl... 