12,12,12

Clock struck 12 and the calendar read 12.12.12 and suddenly I am 27 years old, stepped in to 28 and what an year it has been?

Last year I wrapped up the year with a blog reviewing 2011, but this year I couldn't think of a better day to look back at 2012 than 12.12.12 itself, a unique number not to appear for another century if this world survives the "end of world" planned for 21.12.12 :)

Before going any further I would like to thank every one who has been part of my story - Thank you (a big one), if it wasn't for you I would not have a story to tell; Each and every one of you have had an impact on me and my 27 years and I am glad you took a moment or more to put your fingers in my pie to give it that extra bit of flavor.

Thanks to mum, dad, best sister, teachers, relatives, best pals, buddys, colleagues, leaders, mentors, room mates, GOD and last but not the least Dr.Sukanya from Dr.Bhakra who shot my "Before" picture and never returned to work ever since.

I am sure I have likewise put my finger in all your pies and on few occasions a dirty finger. It was never intentional and I sincerely apologies for any lost moment of yours that was directly or indirectly a consequence of my action.

Coming to 2012, well, what an year it has been. It seems like I just posted my 2011 year end blog but here we are, just a touching distance from the finish line. I came to Melbourne just before the curtains were brought down on 2011 and for me 2012 started with an outbound call to my manager asking for a release from the project due to health issues I was having and yet again my streak of "not managers, but true mentors" continued and RC asked me to assess my situation for few more days before I made a final decision on my release request and sure I do not regret his guidance there. I stayed and rest of the year I was in the southern hemisphere confined to the boulevards of Victoria's capital.

Professionally it has been a good year, being entrusted with more serious roles and responsibilities and certainly my efforts have been recognized so far and I am really happy for that.  Still I have the drive to get up in the morning and without someone wanting to push me I am able to find my way to my office and it is a great sign. I have made good friends at work and have a great team too. Did have few testing moments but what is office without that occasional moment that comes along to give you a reality check and that occasional person who could end up on the wrong side of your Facebook status?

Like I said I started off with a bad health but it has in a way worked well for me, one of the first thing that I really did was to take a gym membership. Sure my mom might have predicted it right, I was just a member. I was not even like a visiting professor, I was more like a sleeping partner or more like a sleeping investor who shared the bank details with the fitness club who promptly took my money every fortnight. As always I was not just a member I was their premium member, sure it did not matter for the first six months. But thanks to one of my colleague I started with some personal training and later I have been a regular gym goer. Certainly my health situation has improved now. I have a very clean eating habits now.

With Bhunkul - pic by Suresh

On a personal front as well things were good this year, thanks to god for that. Last year I had suffered lot of loneliness and sort of depression. This year however I have had a fairly positive outlook and am really happy with that. My mum and dad came up with a blueprint for an endeavor that I never in my life dreamt I would embark on, but god for sure had different plans and with his orchestration things really went well. Now after a long gap my mom and dad have a principal residence in Bangalore.

Me in Angry Bird T

I did not travel a lot this year, except for a visit to lake emerald in a toy train. A bunch of colleagues and I went to lake emerald and I for sure enjoyed the toy train experience. The only travel outside this was my surprise visit to INDIA. I was able to get myself a couple of weeks break from work and the two magnets in India were pulling me and no doubt I succumbed to the pull and went home to visit my mum and dad. It was a really short break but a really worthy break. It certainly revitalised me and now I am firing on all cylinders. One week in Bangalore at my sister's place, a quick visit to WIPRO Elec (oh what a place...seriously...what a place) went to an all you can eat Rajasthani restaurant and man the food was delicious. Some shopping, my sister got me an awesome angry bird T. After a very very long time, my entire family traveled together in a bus from Blr to Chn. Loved the journey back to Madras. One week in Chennai was really short too. Did not visit any friends/relatives however was able to catch up with Suresh/Bhunkul in express avenue. Just remembered, when we were contemplating on the place to eat some one rained Sambar on me right in front of Rajdhani in EA. My friend was more tempered than me on that day. We went to Kapila Dasa, after a soup and a starter we had spent circa INR 800, next thing we ordered was a finger bowl. Sure we had to resume our rest of the dinner in Sangeetha. Good times.

My mum and dad came to see me off on my way to back. Came back in Sept and in Oct I was officially on the marriage market. How excited am I? Well not so much. The search to complete the third dimension of our lives is on and I pray the third dimension is taken by someone who not only brings a new dimension but also is in congruence with other two dimensions of my life. 

Usain Bolt

2012 was an outstanding year for sports. London put up a great show and Olympics was a stand out success. Usain Bolt Strikes again, Baltimore Bullet was on target, Indians did well in Shooting yet again, Mary Kom put the north east back on the Indian map. Outside Olympics, Lance Armstrong (now weak) was a great feed for tweaters. Michael Schumacher retired yet again (we will miss you Mike), Indian Olympic Association banned, Indian boxing federation banned. Wow. Federer got his hands yet again on Wimbledon.

MS Surface

Last year Steve Jobs died, this year apple seems to get a bite on the other side as well. Shares plummets despite of iPhone 5 and iPad mini. Microsoft came out with Surface and Windows 8 not that it has any significance, looks like MS would yet again fail to take on Apple and Google on mobile OS arena.

Arvind Kejriwal has managed to launch AAP, BOBAMA has done it again. Looks like Modi will do it again. PM Julia Gillard made a trip to India to trip and fall there in Delhi.

Samsung made mobiles famous but PSY made Korea famous -

Highlights of 2012:

- Year I consumed maximum cups of coffees in Starbucks

- Yet again a year I called my mum the most number of times

- Year I saw most number of movies outside India

- Year I saw James Bond on IMAX

- Year I spent least time on internet

- Year I traveled the least and walked the most

- Year I lifted more than 1500 kilos in gym

- Year I raised charity for Cancer research

- Year the weighing machine under my shoes stopped inside 87 kilos

- Year I had sent more than 4K emails

- Year my buddys in FICA team (Mohini & Ram) organised a cake and my first ever cake cut in office

- Year I gave a surprise visit to India (and my dad managed to keep it a surprise)

- Year my mom's birthday was made really memorable for her & the best comes last

- The year my mom instantly shed tears on seeing me on my surprise visit. She still loves me :)

Overall 2012 was a good and blessed year.

Wish you all a happy holidays and a healthy, prosperous and happy new year 2013.

All the best.

PS:

This was also the year we lost our beloved aunt to cancer. She is still in our thoughts and will always be.