Cakes, cookies and coffee.

For some winters are here when they touch their nose and its cold, for some when they see snow covering the ground its winters, but for me the smell of strong coffee and urge to eat freshly baked warm cookies from the oven means winters are here.

As the cold starts the natural pull towards the comfort food gets greater and in dreams or fully awake you wish to eat morsel of the sweet delight. If you are keeping check on your weight then its a torture to resist the temptation of cake and cookies. However, to satisfy that sweet tooth sinfully indulging in this delightfull treat is not a crime. A good scientific reason that you burn more calories to keep yourself warm in winters is a good excuse to keep that nagging feeling of, "Oh, you are going to gain weight' safely behind the bars.

Once a chocolate lover said, 'Why God has made good things fattening?' very interesting question indeed the counter question could be, 'Why a person likes to eat things which are fattening or unhealthy?' and there are many similar questions. The guilt of eating such food takes half the enjoyment away. So, I think one should not be bothered by such questions instead one should savour the moment when eating such fine sweet treats.

I especially enjoy baking and then eating what I made, for that I always look for books of baking and survey the websites. Not only that utensils and gadget needed are often added in my collection to master this art. When you sift, mix blend and fold the batter and finally it sits in the oven the anticipation is great for the outcome. The appetizing warm aroma of the baked cake and cookies gives satisfaction and finally when its ready, cut a piece and eat it and enjoy it when it melts in the mouth and spread its delightfull totally engrossing flavour. A sip of strong coffee to wash it down is enough to bring that satisfied smile on your face.

Questions, students never get tired of asking.

Teaching is a profession where you need to have patience larger and bigger than anything. At times you feel guilty that, you are the one who is not teaching well enough. My guilt was gone later on, when I asked the other teachers about the students repetitive habit of asking questions or instructions again and again. especially when you are giving an assessment the list of interrupting questions get even more silly that you feel  like banging your head on the wall.
I thought I am teaching Juniros thats why it happens. I was surprised when my mom, who teaches senior classes, told me that how silly questions the grade nine or ten students can ask, like this one;
"Mam, can I use the back side of the page as my front side of the page is finished," and I thought this only happens in my class. there are few more in my class;
"Should we leave a line or not a leave a line," as a rule I ask them to leave a line in their work everyday. In assessment I allow them not to do that but anyways, each and every child has to ask the same question.
Simple instruction like, 'Write the answer directly in your copy,' welcomes still few more questions, "Miss, can we only write the answer?"
 or
"You mean to say we dont have to write the questions?"
or
"So, we only have to answer the questions.... directly?"
and so on, each time I have to repeat the same instruction in other words, for that you have to be very patient, oh well after five times its ok to yell out, I suppose.
Here there are more;
"May I use colour pencil to underline the answer in a blank?" If I say yes as they are allowed to do that though its not compulsory, still every time they will ask and then to counter that few students will ask, "Miss, I dont have the colour pencil, May I do without it?"
The list of such questions is longer and believe me these kids dont get tired of it.

Winter's Morning.

Just before the dawn breaks, the city seems to be sleeping in the darkness of cold night. Hudled in the warm blankets its hard to step out of the bed and stand in the cold room. Amidst of this the fajr azan (morning prayers) rings the air. This call for the prayers breaks the stillness, welcoming warmly for the obligatory first namaz of the day.

After sometime, the view from the window changes dramatically. First, the soft crimson glow illuminates the clouds and the sky line. Then it slowly starts to spread, just like the blush on someody's face, which creeps up on the cheeks after an affectionate kiss. This is followed by the warm glow that takes over the darkness, and throws away the blanket of night. The cityscape gets all its colours back as soon as the dawn in its wake, paints the whole city with its luminous light.

As to applaud the play performed by the dawn all the birds of the air cheer and welcome the morning. After the azan the happy twitering of the birds seems to be like a music of nature to celebrate the start of the day.