De Ghuma Ke!

I have a confession. No, it's not a Sunday thing. It's the ICC World Cup Cricket 2011.

It's this coming week's semi-finals.

It's about watching Shoaib thundering down the pitch, and no, I don't care how big his ass has become. He's one of the legendary bad boys of cricket with a mop of hair to die for, with an attitude that you hate so much that you love even more.

It's about reminiscing about the Wasim days. It's about the days when bell-bottom pants-wearing fans (think of the 1975 Windies) swarming the pitch BEFORE the last run has finished.

It's about seeing a 16-year old, rosy-cheeked Afridi grown into a pyschotic-performing, mother hen captain that has the only thing crazier than his sixer batting, to be his insanely thick stubble.

It's about India. Bless you for teaching me the wonderful world of cricket. It's about Australia - I know you're not in this World Cup's final but nonetheless, you are one of the best teams in the world that command respect. Just take it a bit easy yea mate?

Kiwis. What can I say? You guys inspire, inspire, and inspire. Go all the way!

Did you say Sri Lanka? My hubby will tell you how he teases me about Sangakkara. In my opinion, a splendid captain, a solid team, not necessarily the top but heck, but man, can they rise to the occasion or what? (This is a statement, not a question) And who cares if Kumar's hair isn't as consistent as his batting? Listen to him speak!

But this year's semi-final showdown between Pakistan and India. I want both to win but I think the Pakistani people need the win more, one that will be bigger than the actual final itself because cricket has that inclusive magic. In an age of terrorist attacks (you guys suck), poverty, politicians getting blasted, all that drain our energy and theirs, we need to bring the game back to the people, the kids, the fans, the future. This win has that essence. I strongly believe the unique Pakistani soil raises the talent that kept bowling us in awe (no pun). Must be something in the attitude to life, could be the chai, must be the dhal perhaps?... India, you know you always have a sweet spot in my heart. Long live Harbhajan!

But boy oh boy, did you get a drift of the official anthem? Just in case you want to "hit hard" in the shower (I know I will), here is the set of lyrics. Go ahead, knock yourself out.

Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe – 4 times

Ayede peyde (de ghumake)
Aare paare (de de ghumake)
Gutti guttham (de ghumake)
Adchan khadchan (de de ghumake)

Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe – 2 times

Ayede peyde (de ghumake)
Aare paare (de de ghumake)
Gutti guttham (de ghumake)
Adchan khadchan (de de ghumake)
Juta hausla, badal faisla
Badhaale tu bindass kaafila
Khel jamaale, kasam uthaale
Bajake chutki dhool chatade

De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe
De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe

Aasman mein maar ke dubki
Uda de ja suraj ki jhapki
Sarr se cheer hawa ka parda
Baandh le patte jamke garda
Maar ke surri sagar mein tu
Chaand bator laga gal mein
Phaad ke chappad masti mauj ki
Baarish hogi ghar ghar mein

De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe
De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe

Atki saans sui ki nok par
Khel bada hi gehera hai
Maza bhi hai romanchedaar sa iska
Ranga rangi yeh chehera hai
Mitti shitti ho halla sab
Hullad dhoom dhadaka hai
Khel khiladi tadak bhadak sab
Jalta bhadaka hai

De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe
De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe

Ayede peyde (de ghumake)
Aare paare (de de ghumake)
Gutti guttham (de ghumake)
Adchan khadchan (de de ghumake)
Juta hausla, badal faisla
Badhaale tu bindass kaafila
Khel jamaale, kasam uthaale
Bajake chutki dhool chatade

De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe
De ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, ghumake, de ghumake, ghumake
Jiyo khiladi waahe waahe

Flown Off To Babymoon

If only we could stay there longer! Hubby took me and the dogs off down South in the charming town of Margaret River for some quietude and much needed space of our own. So we basically housed up in a cottage hidden amongst the trees homed by peacocks and Guinea fowls, fed chooks and geese, Shetland and Angus studs, saw a heartbreakingly sweet moment when Chewy came face-to-face with a curious cow that got close enough to give him his ever virgin kiss (plenty of protest barks later on) and I got my first "antenatal class" feeding an orphaned joey.

The drive down was driven by the incessant effort of Tommy squeezing himself between the chasm of leg room back at the passenger's seat and our front compartment. He dutifully saw himself as designated co-pilot next to hubby for the entire 4-hour drive. That was the only way we could keep him sedatedly still and sane.

Had a stunning lunch at the splendidly groomed Voyager Estate and a drive down to Cape Leeuwin. Got to practice some negative space photography while doing the squatting Buddha asana - bet you never saw that before while looking out at the meeting point of two seas huh?

I'm progressing along the seven-month mark and the point of the day is not to waddle. Baby is kicking so cutely and this kind of groovy, lovey feeling is pretty special... especially when at times, things around you seem so crazily mashed up like the aftermath of the Japan earthquake, politicians debating about the carbon tax, sms spams prescribing acid rain and Betadine antedote and cure-all for the woes of mankind.

Like I shared with a close mate "if it's that easy, then we should have conquered Mars by now".

Get out for a walk people. If there is anything to harness from this, be thankful, spread some goodwill, and gulp the fresh air, smell the flowers and stop panicking!

Here are some of the glimpses of a moment stolen away from the madness we returned to.