Hot out of the printer!



Hot prints for many a letter,

Sunday Morning, can it get any better?

 

 



I know you already love it, but,
Trust me, they'll be better when cut!

 



Tomorrow morning: Cutting lab.

Post cards and Postcards, on World Post Day

So, coming Wednesday is World Post day (9th of October), and with all the joy that the postal system has given me, I thought the least I can do is to burden it with a few hundred more letters! So, for starters, I've got some 6-700 creative, sensitive, crazy people at my disposal at NID. But how do I get them to write? To post?

3 weeks back I printed a bunch of postcards and gifted a few to some friends. Among them, Krishna was very enthusiastic and quickly got her sisters' addresses to write to them. Two postcards. Then she made a few queries regarding where one needs to go to post, where one can get stamps and so on. I clarified those. She needed six stamps to post two postcards abroad. I knew going all the way to Relief Road to the GPO to get nice stamps was out of the question, so we struck a deal; I'd give her four stamps out of my collection in exchange for a really nice purple pen she had (come on, don't judge me! It writes really well on postcards!!). Two stamps still remained. (Mind you, I only gave her four hoping she'd make a trip to the post office, less than a kilometre away from college, to get the other two) She asked the others if anyone would give her company till there, and then the chapter temporarily shut.

Three days back, I had some work and had to go to Ellis Bridge Post Office next to college. So I asked her before going and, since it wasn't too much trouble, I picked up stamps for her.

And then remained the last bit; of posting the card. 40? Or is it 45? That's how many steps it takes to go to the post box from the college gate. So I presumed that won't be difficult. But the next thing I know, I was going to go across the road to grab a bite and Krishna says, "Can you please drop this by the post box?"

In the end, I provided the card, bought the stamp AND posted it! (And felt stupid, not to forget!!)

So I figured there needs to be a greater motivation for people to make an effort. And what might that be?

Okay... It's not a fool proof plan, but here's how it goes.

I've managed to collect some of the most amazing art pieces, illustrations and photographs from some of the most talented people sitting here at NID. Along with that I added a trip to the GPO to get a whole bunch of pretty stamps (And by a whole bunch I mean just a little over 700!).

So the deal is that while these amazing, irresistible post cards lie before you, you cannot just buy them for keeping; the deal is to buy a crazy post card with a beautiful stamp and promise to write it to someone (I know, I know, sounds cheeky when I use that word!).


Either way, the question is, can I make a bunch of NIDians walk across the road to the post box? Three days to find out!


For all you guys reading, get your addresses together, because I'm gonna do everything to make sure you don't get that card unless you're writing to someone!!


And just as we part, don't be heart broken. Remember, stamps are meant to be stamped and postcards are meant to be posted. If you fall in love with either, click a photo and get over it! But do send it across and make someone smile. Trust me, it's gonna be one amazing smile!
 

Is it just a phase, or have I gone crazy?

..So then there were post cards, 153 of them, hot out of the printer, cut in the cutting lab and bundled up into beautiful, huge piles.

(The front and back for printing)

..Not to forget acknowledgements both behind the post card and in hand :)

Thanks to the digital technology, when almost no one gets the time to get the unlimited lot of photos printed, every one who contributed photos to my postcard cause (!) got on their toes to see how pretty their photographs looked in print; the colours, the touch!

Krishna immediately called her sister up to get her address to write to her. Swarna and Yuhina wanted to write to their cousins. Shipra also asked for one, to write to 'someone'! And then there were queries: "How much does it cost to post to America?", "Where do you get stamps?", "Where do you post the letter?", "Who's coming with me to the post office?" Really, it all sounded so cute!! Yes, I felt like I was spreading the love!! Last time it was crochet, and Swati, Krishna and Shipra all got to doing it, making themselves Wacom covers and hard disk covers and what not; and this time, postcards. Unlike the others in class with their long lasting affairs, I'm the one who keeps falling in love over and over again; the kind of love I love to share!! :D

Right after this, I happened to have a weekend programme, and it gave me a day in Delhi; and if it's Delhi, the GPO has to come in the picture. Oh, they have the most beautiful collection of stamps in their philately! So I added to my collection, and then, of course, it didn't stop there.

Yes, it's not; it's merely for safekeeping! :D

So, I managed to make myself a safekeeping book for my stamps, just until I let go of them into the whole wide world!! :D (Basically that month old brown envelope housing them was beginning to tear, so I had to resort to this!)

(The much awaited '100 years of Indian Cinema' collection, finally in my hands! :D )

..With a lot of verbal contribution from dear brother!

..And some jugaadu binding!!

So my day went well, really well! What are you gonna do to make yourself smile today? :D



Postal Frenzy

Do you know where stamps look best?
No, not in that stamp collection book..

..But on their way to their receivers. :D


I've recently been introduced to the philately department of a GPO (courtesy Tarundeep, a fellow stamp lover), and I've completely fallen in love with the beautiful stamps and post cards that they give shelter to. So the combination of my old love for letter writing with these stamps along with a postcard sending website that I came across (postcrossing.com) is pure bliss.

So, there's been a lot of shopping off late, and digging out old post cards that I had lying around, like this really cute one from my college fest 2 years back.

And then there's some level of personalization when I'm in the mood for it..

But the most deadly combination, which I easily fall in love with, is a pretty colour of envelope with a classy stamp!

Not the best quality of photos, but you get the idea!

So, the day you think of someone you haven't spoken to in a while, don't call them. They can live without talking to you a few more nights. Instead, send them a letter and see how special it makes them feel.

Bed-glued rhymes

Day One.

"Take off your shirt, your pant, your brassiere"
I knew, one day, I'd have that to hear,
But I wish the quote
Had a romantic note;
Not a nurse holding out a prisoner's attire.

Day Two.

With the loudest of shrieks and a 'drip' of a start,
Coupled with many an embarrassing part,
Till the White Blood Cells,
Are back; so he tells.
Who he? The doc who told me, "An hour to discharge."

Day Three.

My first solid food,
Ever since I was bed-glued;
Parle-G and chaai;
I think I'll get by.

Day Four.

Home.
Bliss.

And then I was inspired :)

Right now, I'm in this poetry loving phase, thanks to the limericks that Shilpa keeps posting on Facebook.

So, here's my attempt at reconnecting with poetry after half a decade. :)

13/07/2013

Mr. Saran is summoned to court number Four, sir.

His Lordship is strict, they all know for sure, sir.
The judge is concentrating,
While everybody's waiting,
Until the moment they heard the sound of a snore, sir.

13/07/2013

A sleepy little girl names Bess,
One night, dreamt of a war-like mess.
To the soldiers' dismay,
The sergeant came to say,
"It's time for you to brush, Princess."

18/07/2013

In a funny little town called Synnagese,
They paint their house when someone has a disease.
The colours are all there,
But it's a miserly affair,
So the hubby says, "Honey, lend your hair please."

23/07/2013

I looked into my oven and noticed what was sittin'
Was a strawberry cake and a timid little kitten.
I knew not what to do,
For she'd be hot as stew,
But then I thought to myself, "Let's use a mitten."

12/07/2013 (A personalized version of a very clichéd one)

Neelesh had a whim to grow his beard,

Until it grew and grew to be weird.

He knew not why they all did stare,

Till the day he ruffled the hair,

And what came out was a little free bird.

14/07/2013 (From our weekend mornings in the hostel, playing this word game called 'Upwards')

Sunday morning has in store,

Words and words and words galore.

One step up,

Another above,

Will ensure a mighty score.

Shakespeare. Heard of him?

"Shakespeare, you know, lived long ago,
In the days of good Queen Bess, sir.
And as a bard, you'll find it hard,
To beat him, you'll confess, sir.

It takes some days to read his plays,
So a quicker way I have spotted,
And now you'll hear, my own idea,
Of Shakespeare, snap shotted, or neatly potted.

Julius Caesar:
Julius Caesar was a nut,
And a high old cockalorum.
And Brutus it was that stabbed him,
In a place they called the Forum.

Mark Antony, sarcastically,
Turned everything contrary,
And Brutus died of suicide,
With a sword in his little merry.

Antony and Cleopatra:
A soldier free was Antony,
Till Cleopatra mashed him.
They sailed in style, right up the Nile,
And then the Romans thrashed him.

Mark Antony flies, the lady dies,
For a snake gave her the bite, sir.
She fell down dead upon her bed,
And serve her damn well right sir.

Macbeth:
Old king Macbeth put men to death,
And found it exciting.
Till Macduff came and spoiled his game,
And they both started fighting.

"Lay on, Macduff, for I'm hot stuff"
Was the cry of old Macbeth, sir.
But he was gored on Macduff's sword,
And died for want of breath, sir.

Hamlet:
When Hamlet saw the ghost, O low!
He did get in a lather,
He said I'm the bogey man,
But once I was your father.

So kindly kill your uncle Bill,
And Hamlet slew his foe, sir,
But when he found Ophilia drown,
He was killing himself also, sir.

Merchant of Venice:
Into the court, old Shylock brought,
A youth who owed him money,
You're in my mesh, one pound of flesh,
Quoth Shylock, "Pay up sonny."

But Portia's awake, the flesh you may take,
But not one drop may he bleed, sir.
Old Shylock cursed, the court dispersed,
And the judge went home to feed, sir.

Romeo and Juliet:
A sweet little pet, called Juliet,
To Romeo got wed, sir.
She drank a drug, mixed in a jug,
And he thought she was dead, sir.

His life he takes, the lady wakes,
And finds him dead for certain.
The silly little elf, then kills her little self,
And that brings down the curtain."


~~

Now be a little fair, and give a round of claps there,
Though don't you wonder who wrote this fine scrip?
In my head he's tall, and wise beyond all,
His fine grey blazer measures to the hip.

Now don't you accuse me of building this fantasy,
He's very much real, now get a grip.
But if I were to be true, I'd very well be telling you,
My great grand father met him on a ship.

~~

So, my maternal grandmother's uncle happened to meet this gentleman on a ship who recited this beautiful tribute to Shakespeare. He memorized it, and then passed it on, and it finally came to me and my siblings through our grandmother. May be I can also memorize it and pass it on one day! Till then, it's here for you all to enjoy.