On Francois Du Plessis

After my African Musing from my previous post, I wanted to talk a bit more about my current reason for obsession. FRANCOIS DU PLESSIS. I know most of you'll will go "Who?". Believe till about a week back I was exactly the same.


Well, lets see what I know about him. Francois or 'Faf' as he is known by was born on 13th July, 1984 in Pretoria. H went to University of Pretoria and was selected for Lancashire which is quite a big county club in England. Peter Moores, ex- England coach, said he was the best fielder ever. But that's what I got over Google. So no biggie. He is still a relatively unknown name here in India and first came into the limelight during the IPL auction where he was selected for Chennai Super Kings over eminent cricketers like Brian Lara, Saurav Ganguly & even Graeme Swann.


But I actually came to know about him in during one of the World Cup matches - England v/s South Africa. I supported England and was thrilled when they won. But this guy sort of stuck with me. Clueless as to why that happened. But during the India v/s South Africa match, I was rooting for India but I was suddenly vaguely obsessed with this guy. I wonder why? He isn't the most audacious of batsmen, nor the best bowler around and he isn't That Good Looking. But he was stuck on my mind.. Maybe its lust.Maybe its obsession. Maybe its awe. Does it matter..??


Anyways needless to say, I am rapidly getting more and more obsessed with him ( In a non- stalker way)  and I like everything I'm getting to know of him. Call me crazy . Call me obsessed. Call me weird.I don't care. I like Faf. ( Love is too strong a word and its really not possible when you hardly know a person and all you do know is through the internet from secondary sources)

 I'm hoping I can meet him one day. Hopefully, its during the IPL and say something to him.No idea what but I'm sure whatever I do say on the spur of the moment, it should be quite OK.


As they say in Afrikaans ; Al die beste vir julle, Faf! Ek is jou grootste fan.
(All the best to you, Faf!! i'm your biggest fan)

On Going Afrikaan

I admit Im going through a slight "South Africa" obsession phase now. And I quite like it. It isnt quite as irrational and alarming as my love for everything English but is a bit more subtle and quite signifies my fondness for the Rainbow Nation.


It all started with the South African Cricket team and 2 of their players - AB De Villiers and Francois Du Plessis.


I shall come back to 'Faf' Du Plessis later on. AB De Villiers is known for his amazing fielding ability and his batting skills. Apparently he's also quite a talented singer. I cant get his song - Maak Jou Drome Waar( Make Your Dreams Come Through) out of my head. And the album which has 9 songs in Afrikaans and 5 in English is an absolute bundle of joy.

Well, as most of you may know , South Africa is one country which was plagued by a lot of apartheid which it seems to have recovered from now. It's such a beautiful country with its breathtaking views and cosmopolitan environment. And isnt there something just enchanting about Africa? The long forgotten continent which most of the time is synonymous with poverty and helplessness and war.Its nice to see South Africa like a beacon in the darkness ahead.

South Africa is the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and this is also a bit reflective on the country in a way I feel. Most of what I do know about the country is through books and through a few videos here and there.


Recently, I stumbled on this radio guy called Whackhead who is way too funny for his own good. This is an excerpt of him talking to Graeme Smith - South African Captain.

If you question the theme of my blog today, it is the growing awareness of Afrikaans as a language and in a macro view of it as a huge factor in Africa today. It is about understanding the amazing plethora of things African and hopefully growing more closer to a sense of being a global citizen in the world to day. 


I do hope I can vist South Africa someday. Go to Kruger National Park, or visit Pretoria and Joburg and the Cape.I'm sure it will be all fun and frolic with the Proteas. 


Hope dreams come soon fast...

On Introspection

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. - Auguste Rodin

                                 We live in a digitalized world. We have a life which is constantly on fast- forward. And when we want to stop, we finally realize it is too late anyway. What is the point of living if we don’t discover, if we don’t explore ourselves or the world we live in?? How long are we going to take things for granted? Isn’t it time for us to wake up and change our path? Answering any of these questions isn’t easy but it does make one wonder as to why people work so hard to achieve something and then find out it wasn’t worth it at all.
                               There are so many things in life which bring you down. That assignment you have to do the next day, a paper you have to submit, an unrequited love, a broken friendship, an argument at home… Yet, we trudge along as though we are all perfect and act as if everything is ok. Are we afraid to show how we truly feel? Does it make us weak and unwanted? The human race has always been reserved about its emotions. And in recent times, it has become even more profound. When was the last time you told someone you loved them? And it need not just be that guy you’re going with for a month now… What about your siblings? Your grandparents? When is the last time you told them 3 simple words- I Love You!-. We forget the simple things in life as we go chase after the complex ones. When was the last time you sat watching the rain splash against your window or watched a movie which really touched your heart or opened your heart to someone telling them all your fears, hopes and disappointments? When was the last time you did something just for the pure fun of it and didn’t weigh the pros and cons of everything?
                               Life keeps throwing curveballs at us. We can duck it only for a while. We have to stand up to it someday. Sometimes wouldn’t it just be better if we were infants and lived in a time where we had no responsibilities, no obligations and no duties…. But, then we would never grow up and never experience the beauty of human relationships. We would never experience the secret laugh only the best of friends share or that special camaraderie with that person. We would never learn to love and be loved in return and will never experience all the world has to offer.
                                 Yet, after all of this, I feel that my idea of the world is through rose-tinted spectacles. An idealistic place where I feel I’m the only one. I’m alone and yet I prefer to stay here. I refuse to take risks as I believe it will protect me. Little do I know that this is also the way I will lose who I am truly supposed to be and the thought of that terrifies me every single day. I’m so afraid to go out there that I hide behind my confident exterior.
                              So this is my way of saying, “I am changing”. I am not doing a brave and heroic deed like rescuing someone but I am rescuing myself from someone I don’t want to be and for that I suppose I must open myself and take off my spectacles and be a bit more braver…..

A Short Story...MEMORIES

This was something I had written a while back!! It was during one of my sudden bursts of inspiration.I don't know how correct it  is or whether it even makes sense, but I love my characters and it is my first sort of story which makes it very special to me...

“I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken -- and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.” – MARGARET MITCHELL

Standing on the pier, overlooking the harbour, Mark missed hearing her voice. His hands tightened on the rails and his eyes grew dark with the bittersweet memories. He never could have seen it coming. She was so alive, so charismatic, and so beautiful and things would never be the same now. He still remembered the way she used to smile at him over her morning cup of coffee…  The glint in her eye as she told him about her new favourite song and the arguments they had over the probabilities of who would win the World Cup. How she used to completely startle him with her insane logic at times. Yet she was his rock and his love and had meant everything to him.

It had been four years now. Four years since Blair had gone. Gone to a world from where she would never return. And somewhere he could not follow. How cruel could God be to take away the very existence of his life? There had been no one since her. No one could ever replace her. Her warmth, her generosity, her love for life…. It was indeed tragic to lose her. He still remembered the day it happened and his eyes glowed with anger as the thoughts rushed past his mind.

 It was Christmas Eve. He was standing at this very place with Cassie, waiting for Blair to finish her last minute shopping. ‘How like Blair to keep everything last minute’, he mused. He had already finished his shopping. He had recently been to Amsterdam for a Doctors Convention and had bought an emerald bracelet for Blair and a lovely porcelain doll for Cassie. And he held Cassie in his arms as the wind blew against their hair and the ships sailed into the harbour.

Suddenly, he heard a sound from behind. There was a huge crowd which had gathered at the opposite side of the street. Curious, he walked across, holding Cassie in his arms. He had this sudden fear eating him up and wanted it to go away… And then…..  He saw her. Blair lay on the side walk in a pool of blood. He rushed to her and checked to see her pulse. Nothing. It was silent. Cassie was crying loudly, not understanding, why her mummy was lying there. Mark couldn’t believe it… He kept pumping her chest and giving her CPR, but nothing worked. ‘What was the point of being a doctor, if you can’t save the one you loved’, he wondered angrily as he begged Blair to wake up. Again and again and again. But to no avail.

He suddenly looked up at the people gathered there and grew angry. No one bothered to help. No one bothered to do anything. “What happened to her”, he roared at them. “Answer me.”

“She was hit by a speeding car. They were a couple of teens, enjoying the Christmas break and probably really drunk. They didn’t see her crossing the street. They ran away as soon as it happened. I’m really sorry mate. I truly am”, said a passerby. Mark couldn’t believe it. He vowed he would get those kids for this.

Even after four years now, he could still feel her presence. She didn’t deserve to die that way. It seemed just yesterday when she had thrown him his 35^th birthday. How happy they were then. Cassie was a year old and looked adorable in her lace frock. They seemed the perfect family. He loved spending all the time he could with them. Playing with Cassie or watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s over and over with Blair. He loved doing it all. He loved walking through the fields behind their Cheshire home with Cassie and Blair, marveling at the blue sky and the prettiness of the yellow daffodils.

Now, here he was. Standing there, looking at the blue sea. He brushed away the tears from his eyes and looked towards the town. He had finally come to say goodbye to Blair. To tell her he had found the teens out and had dealt with them. To allow her to be free and to be at peace.

Everyone was enjoying themselves. The shops were alight with lights and crowds of people enjoyed the festivities. Christmas was around the corner. Suddenly, he heard her voice.

“Daddy, where are you? Grandma says can we please go to the restaurant now. She is very hungry. Daddy, look. A fair… Can we go there, please? Pretty Please?” said Cassie.

“Alright, love. Let’s go”.

She was almost 5 years now. And how alike he mother she looked with her grey eyes and chestnut hair. She was all he had now. He had to be strong for her. He loved her more than anything and refused to break down with emotion although there were times he couldn’t speak as Blair’s loss was so acute. And Christmas only made it worse. But, like a circle, life had to continue. They had to move on. He paused one last time and looked towards the sea.

“Goodbye, my love. Let’s hope we meet soon.” So saying he took his daughter’s hand and made his way to the fair. 

Here's to inspiration!!!

On Cricket!!

OK. I admit it. I'm a huge fan of cricket! Not surprising really as I come from a country wherein it is like a religion. But the more shocking to me was that I don't support India which usually makes me an 'apparent' traitor to my country. I support England, wholly and truly and I'm tired of feeling ashamed of supporting them. It is not a sign of your patriotism regarding which team you support. Your patriotism should be seen in other pressing matters like Human Right, Governance and well, things other than sports. Is this so or am I just rationalising my choice of a team??? Maybe you can answer that!! All I know is that when England and India play, my heart beats for England ALL THE WAY!!!

One more thing I like about cricket and this may sound a bit shallow and sexist and whatever you want it to be... but mostly I just "look" at the player, but not "see" them. I love Men. I really do. So I don't think it should take you too long to figure that I support the team which I seem to find more attractive.So Patriotism does not come here at all.Its pure ATTRACTION!! Doesn't that English Accent just send shivers down your spine or that Irish List make you go "Aww". Alternatively, I do fancy some Kiwi and Saffa Men too. Hamish Bennett (NZ), Francois Du Plessis (SA) are not bad either. 

Anyway, It looks like a short time to support anyway. With England literally playing the worst ever, Its really not too much a happy time. It sucks to be on such a high ;last year and then be so awful this year!!!