How I made the most of Lockdown and Shared my Mother’s Load

Its Lockdown Day 23 – 10 am. I was in my usual self waking up with tea and breakfast served in bed by Mom, while my sister was busy doing sweeping and cleaning, and Dad was busy reading newspaper.

“Give me all your dirty clothes, I will do laundry today. And after breakfast go sleep in other room while I clean this one and make your bed. Its so messed up !” Mom said while pouring tea in my cup.

I opened my Instagram and was browsing Stories while eating my breakfast when I stumbled upon my Friend’s TikTok video where He is cleaning the house with a mop and sad music is being played in Background. “Tch Tch. Poor boy!” I giggled.

I showed it to my Mom who was sitting next to me, expecting her to laugh along. She looked and didn’t laughed. Instead there was a disappointment on her face. “Finish your breakfast and give me your dirty clothes” she said and left.

The last few weeks’ news flashed over my mind instantly –

I realized immediately. 

I realized I should be giving her a helping hand rather than being a couch potato all day. I realized she is missing her favorite TV serials as she is mostly occupied in kitchen.
I realized she was getting constant back ache because of house hold chores and it wasn’t good for her health.

I examined my room. Clothes lied over my chair which was meant to sit on, clothes were on my bed to be lied on, a huge pile of clothes were on my hanger behind the door, and obviously clothes were in my wardrobe but in a condition better not explained !

It usually seemed normal to me, but today it was different. I knew what I had to do !

I firstly accumulated clothes from everywhere, then separated clothes that needs a wash, clothes that need an iron, clothes I no longer wear and can be donated, and the clothes that just needs a proper fold.

The pile of clothes meant for washing were separated out in the next minute.
Dad took the responsibility of the pile of clothes meant for ironing.
The pile of clothes meant to be donated were put in a bag with other clothes and the NGO guy was called to pick them up.
The pile of clothes meant to be folded were kept separately to be properly plated and neatly kept.
And Guess what, I also found my favorite ‘Super Man’ T Shirt that I was searching for since last week.

Ok, now I quickly Googled ‘How to wash clothes in Washing Machine?” – Yes I did that ! I realized I need help.

While I was finding the way to use Washing Machine, I came across this beautiful and eye-opening advertisement of Ariel :

As the advertisement ended, I had goosebumps. I suddenly felt more responsible. I knew it was the right time to #ShareTheLaundry.

So, Instead of searching on Web, I went over and whispered to my father “Do you know how to use washing machine?” Dad looked at me in surprise and understood what was going on in my mind, and synced immediately ! “Yes, come lets do it” he said closing the newspaper and kept it in the appropriate newspaper holder.

Dad knew exactly where the packet of Ariel was kept. And he knew exactly the steps to be followed on the washing machine. While he secretly brought the Ariel packet, I secretly brought all my dirty clothes. While I was watching Dad do the steps on washing machine very carefully, I realized both my Mom and sister were also watching us with awe and surprise !

And they couldn’t hold it for long and burst out laughing. And at the very next moment we all 4 were laughing.

1, 2 – socks out of shoe
3, 4 – shirts and more
5, 6 – trousers need a fix
7, 8 – undies cant wait
9, 10 – Every Man Can !

Well well, the above was the jingle we danced upon while our clothes were doing Zumba, salsa and much more in the washing machine. And to their company was Ariel Matic ! Ah cannot be a better jodi I say !!

I made Mom sit in front of TV, put on the Kapil Sharma Show and let her have her time. I then folded my blankets, corrected my bed, arranged the shoe rack. While I did all this, the Washing machine did its job and beeped. We opened the lid and a lovely aroma filled the house. Ariel not only washes the clothes perfectly but also gives a nice flowery smell to the clothes that gives you a happy feeling!

I picked a couple of my shirts to find them clean, shining and fresh like flowers. Oh yes, my another role was to dry these clothes on the hangar which I quickly did while Dad prepared Masala Tea for the family.

So in an hour, our clothes were washed and dried, my room was clean, we had Dad’s special tea, while Mom and Didi watched TV and relaxed. That’s what happens when the load is equally shared among family members ~ you have more time with them ! And that’s how Ariel does it. Its an incredible idea, I say !

I then brought the dried clothes back, and within minutes did all the folding.

I then made a WhatsApp Video call to my Aunt who speaks a lot, which made Mom occupied. I entered the kitchen and examined the area. Firstly, I quickly opened the tap and made sure all the utensils are rinsed properly. I used vinegar to clean off the glass utensils and made sure to handle them very carefully. I also cleaned up the kitchen platform and arranged already clean dishes properly in the racks. I kept all the stuff at their right places. I then washed utensils and in 15 minutes all the utensils were cleaned, washed and rinsed & the sink was empty. Look how easy it is :

And I also sprayed a little air freshener to give our kitchen a different mood when Mom enters.

Me & Dad later also helped Mom during cooking by supplying her the required items from fridge, chopping vegetables and counting the number of whistles pressure cooker is making to turn it off at the right time. Well, any help is help !

So, like this, our Sunday was converted to SON-Day ! And I pledged to continue this everyday, to help my Mom do the daily work. I pledged that I will #ShareTheLoad and help in household chores in association with Ariel India and BlogAdda, because it is rightly said – #ShareChoresMultiplyLove !
Afterall, I am equally responsible too !

During the whole lockdown, I am making sure I am helping Mom in smallest of the things – right from getting grocery, to doing laundry. Dad is also helping her in best possible ways. This is giving her enough time to pursue her old hobby of Craftwork, & Knitting and she happily made masks, aprons, hand gloves, paper holders, table mats and more !

During this whole time, we also made sure we are washing our hands regularly, ensuring social distancing, only went out if extremely necessary and used masks and sanitizers.

Hope all the families are following this suit. Household chores are not just women’s territory and this pandemic has shown us that we must co-work to co-exist. We must Share The Load !

Ariel’s this idea of load sharing is quite nice and apt in this rushed world. So, the message is loud & clear, #ShareTheLoad, and here is how we said it –

 

Did you joined your Mom and #ShareTheLoad today?

 

#ShareTheLoad and Fold the Clothes – Take the 30 Seconds Challenge !

‘Mom, here are all the clothes dried up nice in this scorching sun !’ I brought the heap of clothes on my shoulder and acted tired as if I have brought from miles away whereas I just brought them from terrace hanger !

I just threw all the clothes on the sofa and crashed on the bed. I was hungry. ‘Mom, why don’t you make my favorite Pasta today? Its Sunday and I have helped you in the chores – I did the laundry, the dishes, room cleaning etc, so I need the reward, right?’ My puppy face game was on.

Mom smiled. I felt fishy. Another task maybe? No worries, I was all pumped up !

Mom sat on the sofa and said, ‘Okay, here is a game. I want to see how fast you can fold these clothes. I challenge you to fold all these clothes in 2 minutes ! You do that and you favorite Pasta is on its way, along with you second favorite Cold Coffee !!‘

I jumped on the bed. Cold Coffee, with Pasta? I already had water in my mouth! But folding something like 20 clothes in 2 minutes? Was that even possible?

‘Not possible Mom ! How can you fold all these clothes in 2 minutes ? Look at those jeans and T-Shirts of mine.’ I was excited but not sure if it was do-able !

‘So, you give up?’ Mom asked tauntingly !

‘No wait!’ I recalled seeing one of the tweets from BlogAdda where they have given tips of folding clothes quickly. I quickly opened up my twitter and checked it out. Here is the tweet –

Let's see how many clothes you can fold under 30 seconds? It's time to bring on your best Folding Game! Here's the last #SONday challenge. Have a look at https://t.co/HxeBFso5I1 and participate! #ShareTheLoad pic.twitter.com/HTxzOlVYth

— BlogAdda (@blogadda) May 13, 2019

I saw the video carefully. It wasn’t tough !

‘Ok, I accept the challenge’. I said confidently.

So it was game time. Mom held the timer and I was on my knees in the best position to quickly fold all the clothes. I kept the T-shirts, shirts, shorts etc on top with jeans below them. Mom said 3,2,1 and Go !

And here I began – I quickly folded my T-shirts first as they took the least time, then the shirts by the technique given above. Then the shorts, vests, towels, socks, napkins and finally the jeans and trousers. When Mom started the countdown I was left with 4 clothes, I quickly jumped and raised my pace. When it was 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – I was almost Done! I just managed to finish it in time !!

‘Yayy, I did it !!’ I screamed loudly. Mom stood up and gave me a standing ovation. Dad also smiled and clapped along. Woah, I didn’t knew folding clothes would be this much fun ! Mom patted my back and said, ‘Everything is easy even if you don’t know how to do it, but if you are eager to do it. You learned quickly, and did it. Proud of you !’

I was happy. Because of Mom’s words of encouragement and appreciation, and because my fav Pasta and Coffee were on their way ! And also because I shared Mom’s load of folding the clothes.

Here is the video of the 30 second challenge that I completed. My score was 6. Participate in this campaign and share your score too !

I pledge to #ShareTheLoad in household chores in association with Ariel and BlogAdda

Check out this video –

Isn’t this video eyeopening? It truly is. Share this video and blog with your followers and let every son know the importance of sharing mother’s load. I have done my bit and will continue doing so.

What about you ?

 

 

Clean Kitchen, Clean Dishes & #ShareTheLoad = Happy Mom !

‘Mamta, you are taking too many leaves! There is so much work in the kitchen and you are saying you cannot come?’ Mom was upset while talking to our maid on the phone.

While she was on the phone I went to the kitchen. The sink was full of dishes, the platform was dirty, the utensils were all over the place, and a lot more unfinished work I could sense.

And then suddenly I recalled this video I saw as Blogadda’s post on twitter :

It's time for you to master the task of doing the dishes! The third #SONday challenge is here. Don't miss out participating for this one – https://t.co/HxeBFso5I1 – Write one tonight. #ShareTheLoad pic.twitter.com/PMKfsjfV4l

— BlogAdda (@blogadda) May 6, 2019

And this video I have already seen and even shared with my friends –

It was a perfect time to #ShareTheLoad from my mother and let her enjoy her Sunday while I take good use of the tips above shared by Blogadda.

So I entered the kitchen and examined the area. Firstly, I quickly opened the tap and made sure all the utensils are rinsed properly. I used vinegar to clean off the glass utensils and made sure to handle them very carefully.

I also cleaned up the kitchen platform and arranged already clean dishes properly in the racks. I kept all the stuff at their right places.

It was time to clean the utensils. I took the cleaning gel on the Scrub and began. This task was not as hard as it looked, and since all the dishes were already rinsed, it was a smooth ride for me. I was done in 15 minutes with all the utensils cleaned, washed and rinsed & the sink was empty. I then cleaned the sink with lemon in the washing gel to keep it shining, and then washed my hands properly with lemon based hand wash that gives you cleaner germ free hands with a nice fragrance !

Watch this video –

By the time Mom heard the noises of the vessels and came to kitchen, all the dishes were already done. The kitchen looked clean with all the things like hand towel, lighter, spices box etc at their correct places ! And I also sprayed a little air freshener to give our kitchen a different mood when Mom enters.

‘Did you do this?’ Mom asked in surprise and shock together.
‘Yes’ I said.
The look on her face was priceless !

My mom was very happy as I have shared her load and helped her in the household chores. She quickly made tea for all of us as the utensils were all available and the workload and stress was so less now for her.

Like this, another Sunday was well spent with Mom by sharing a bit of her load, the best that we sons can do. Cleaning dishes, doing our laundry ourselves, arranging wardrobe, buy groceries etc – these are the smallest and simplest of things a son can do to reduce the burden off our mother’s shoulders.

I pledge to #ShareTheLoad in household chores in association with Ariel and BlogAdda

What did you do to #ShareTheLoad today?

My Wardrobe- No more messy, Thanks to Mom & #ShareTheLoad

‘Mom, where is my favorite Thor T-shirt? I have to wear it today as we all friends are going to watch Avengers – The End Game’ !

‘Must be in your wardrobe, beta. Remember you only washed it last Sunday in the Washing Machine in the #Ariel #ShareTheLoad challenge’. Mom said with a smiling face.

‘Yeah, I remember but just cannot find it‘ I browsed through my wardrobe completely but it seemed like finding a needle in a haystack.

Golden Rule of life : ‘Mom knows it‘. And hence I had to turn my puppy face to Mom and ask for help.

Mom came to my room and she seemed to be shocked by the messed up state of my clothes in the wardrobe. And the room. And the clothes lying all over the room. Though it seemed just normal to me !

‘What is this condition of your clothes! How are you supposed to find anything?’ Mom said with a huge disbelief in her voice.

I must admit I had to agree with her. It usually takes me minutes (sometimes hours) to find the one piece of cloth I need. Clothes lied over my chair which was meant to sit on, clothes were on my bed to be lied on, clothes were also on my lamp meant to be lit, a huge pile of clothes were on my hanger behind the door, and obviously clothes were in my wardrobe but in a condition better not explained !

Ok, now that you have promised to help me in my household chores, and it is Sunday, come lets fix this mess ! Mom said, rather ordered.

I had no choice but to agree. But I also have to agree it was needed. So, here we begun.

I followed Mom’s instructions and firstly accumulated clothes from all sources – on the hanger behind the door, hanger in the bathroom, from over my bean bag, chair, behind my computer desk, and the unfolded clothes from the wardrobe (i meant all).

I then separated clothes that needs a wash, clothes that need an iron, clothes I no longer wear and can be donated, and the clothes that just needs a proper fold.

The pile of clothes meant for washing were in the machine in the next minute.
The pile of clothes meant for ironing were sent to the ‘Iron Man’ (literally) in the next lane.
The pile of clothes meant to be donated were put in a bag with other clothes and the NGO guy was called to pick them up.
The pile of clothes meant to be folded were done so, properly plated and neatly kept.
The few clothes that were already folded and were inside my wardrobe in a corner were still taken out, the wardrobe was cleaned, and the clothes kept again, and to my surprise, my ‘Thor’ T-Shirt was one among them !

I then re-looked at my room. Wow I didn’t knew I had this much space in here. The chair and the bean bag can now be used the way they should be !
I then looked at my wardrobe, it looked so managed and organized.
I looked at my clothes, I found so many shirts I once wore and never used again as they got lost in the huge pile of other clothes.

I looked at Mom. She was happy, and so I was.

Isn’t sharing the load of your mother the best way to bring a smile on her face? I came across this video of Ariel and cannot stop sharing –

So I pledge to help my mother in managing our house. I pledge to #ShareTheLoad in household chores in association with Ariel and BlogAdda.

Do you ?

 

Tips to make the most of Barcelona – A Complete Guide.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Want to make the most of your vacation by visiting the best places in the city, also keeping the budget in mind? Also want to do offbeat things rather than just touristy stuff?

Read on :

Barcelona is a lovely city ! I happened to be in Barcelona for 2 weeks (including 2 weekends) for work. But I made the most of my business trip by planning well in advance, and utilizing the 2 weekends I got to cover the city’s best things to do and see.

Let me tell you how –

Before Arrival in Barcelona

First thing : Buy the Barcelona Pass

The Barcelona pass costs 99 Euros. It might seem a lot but the benefits outprice it. It is valid for 2 days from the first scan and if you start your days early and plan in advance, you can utilize much more than 99 euros. It gives you one free guided walking tour, one bicycle tour, fast track entry to most of the places, gives a 1 day pass of Barcelona Touristic Bus, and also gives you discount on few famous restaurants in Barcelona.

Here is the link to buy it and the places you can visit – https://www.barcelonapass.com/

Next : Schedule your visits early

Once you have the pass in advance, schedule these 3 visits by sending emails to the respective offices (given on Barcelona Pass website), as the slots get generally full.
-Gothic City Walking Tour
-Bicycle Tour
-Liceu Opera Tour

From the bike and walking tour, I suggest to choose one, preferably the walking tour, as it covers main Gothic city and gives you insight into Barcelona history. Also it is of around 3 hours duration so if you begin your day at 9 am, you can finish it before 12 and be ready for next things.

So this was the pre-prep for the Barcelona trip. It is a smart way of planning rather than getting disappointed later because of unavailability of slots.

If you have already booked you hotel / hostel its good, but if you are yet to do, I recommend finding something near to Las Ramblas, the heart of the city.

After arrival in Barcelona

To make the best use of Barcelona pass, it is advised to start early in the morning like 9 am. Also, eat good breakfast as exploring the city on foot is the best way to do it, so keep yourself energized and hydrated.

Day 1

Begin at 9 am and go for your guided tour. This is the first place when your Barcelona pass gets activated for next 2 days. Your guide will be well aware of the languages you speak so will take the tour accordingly. The guide will meet you at decided point, and then take you around the Gothic Barri and tell you about the history behind each place, and event. It is a very indulging tour and you’ll thoroughly enjoy it. The tour should last for around 2-3 hours.

The guided tour will end probably near the Cathedral, and all you have to do is just cross the road to the other side and you’ll reach Liceu Opera, one of Barcelona’s most beautiful and historical buildings. If your scheduled slot time is close, go for the guided tour now, or come back later.
The tour takes around 1 to 1.5 hours.

Lunch time, anywhere on Ramblas. If you are looking for cheaper options, walk into the Boqueria market right next to the Opera house and indulge yourself for a gastronomic treat with fresh juices at Euro 1, chocolates, burgers, tapas etc in the cheapest price possible.

Then, walk on the La Ramblas towards the port. The other end is the point where you can find the booking counter of the boat ride – Las Golondrinas boat cruise. Show your Barcelona pass and you will get the slot time. Board the boat and get ready for an exhilarating ride into the sea, from where you can see the complete Barcelona skyline, and it is a mesmerizing view.
The ride lasts for about 1.5 hours.

Once back on the ground, walk left and take the bridge towards the Aquarium. Its an amazing must see aquarium that houses great aquatic species you know or might not know, including sharks, dolphins and even penguins !
The visit should take you 2 hours.

The next thing to do is MACBA – The Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona, which should take you 15-20 minutes on foot from the Aquarium. The collection here is outstanding and will leave you spellbound on the thoughts behind each art work !
This visit time depends on you indulged you are in art, but usually 2 hours is enough to see this museum.

Rush for the last thing on Day 1 – the Wax Museum (Museu De Cera), 10 minutes from MACBA. If you are tired, you can even skip, but if you can, just go for it. It is a nice collection of wax figurines of the world’s famous persons, including a horror house and other interesting figures as well.
Should take 1 to 1.5 hours.

Enough for Day 1. You have covered many interesting places that are a must do in Barcelona. Now dine in a fancy restaurant and sleep well to gear up for Day 2 !

Day 2

Now that we have Barcelona pass, so today we will take Barcelona Touristic Hop On Hop Off Bus. This usually costs around 30 Euros for 1 day that comes free with our pass.

To activate the Bus pass, you have to go to the Touristic Bus office in Placa Catalunya. They open up at 9 and will give you a paper that you have to show to the Bus Conductor once to get the ticket for the day.

The Touristic Bus has three lines. You’ll get a map that shows the route for each. This bus trip is exciting enough to just sit and adore the amazing buildings of Barcelona, with trees alongside the wide and clean roads, and will keep explaining you the famous landmarks as it passes through them, via an Audio Guide that comes free with the pass.

I recommend to take the Blue Line first as it has more exciting things on its route.

Get into the Blue bus at Placa Cataluyna and get off at Casa Batllo, 2 stops later. Casa Batllo, pronounced as Casa Batiyo, is an important landmark of Gaudi. Its a beautiful building that houses some amazing works of Antoni Gaudi. 
The visit should take you 1.5 to 2 hours.

Come outside and wait at the same bus stop you get off at. The bus frequency is around 15 mins. 

Get into the Blue line again and get off at Casa Mila (La Pedrera). Casa Mila’s facade will catch your attention immediately, thanks to its unique design. Enjoy the amazing work on Gaudi narrated beautifully with the audio video guide.
This visit should take you 1 to 1.5 hours.

On the way you’ll pass through Sagrada Familia. This is the biggest landmark in Barcelona, but in my opinion it is more exciting outside then it is inside. Do not get down to visit it, as its entry is not included in the Barcelona Pass. Visit it any other day by buying tickets online and getting the scheduled time slot. Its tickets start from 17 Euros.

Our next stop will be FC Barcelona Museum & Camp Nou Stadium. This is a not-to-be-missed place in Barcelona, and even if you are not a football fan, this place will still give you goosebumps. 
Enjoy the FCB museum, the walk through the press room, Jacuzzi room, players area and finally into the ground ! And then into the stands and the VIP boxes. And the huge FCB official merchandise shop. This visit is a must to complete your Barcelona trip !
The tickets usually costs around 30 Euros but comes free with our pass. The visit should take you around 2 hours.

Complete your blue line bus tour that ends at Placa Catalunya, from where it began. Get to the other side and find the stop of Red Line Touristic Bus.

Begin your red bus tour and get off at Poble Espanyol. It is an amazing city like area that houses museums, shops, cafes and more. Entry is free with Barcelona Pass. 
This visit should take you 1 hour.

Continue your red bus tour again. Take a long drive and enjoy the soothing climate while sitting on the top of this open roof bus.  By evening you will be back to main city.

You might want to get down at Barcelona Zoo, if there is time (it closes at 6 PM) and if you have energy to do more. Also the Touristic bus stops running at 7 PM so you have to keep in mind that too.
Barcelona Zoo should take you 1-2 hours.

If it is beyond 6, and the Zoo is closed, then take a bus / Metro / Taxi / Walk to Montjuic. The magic fountain there is splendid and is also a must do when in Barcelona.
The timings of Magic Fountain is displayed on the website and runs for half an hour approx.

Spend the remaining night walking down the Ramblas, and getting into one of the clubs that have Flamenco Dance shows. Flamenco is the traditional dance form of Spain and will keep you glued to your seat during the entire performance.
The cost of Flamenco dance would be starting from 15 to 20 Euros -without food and drink, and starting 40 Euros -with food and drink. Different clubs offer different packages. Choose one and indulge !

So, you have spent 2 days in Barcelona and made good use of your Barcelona pass, seeing places worth much more than 100 Euros ! However it is impossible to use it completely and see all the attractions.

 

Some more tips to make best use of your time in Barcelona :

-To visit La Sagrada Familia, make sure to book your tickets and slot well in advance (around 3-4 days back) to get your preferred time.

-Park Guell is another major attraction in Barcelona. Although the entry costs 10 Euros, you can visit it for free if you reach the park before 8 AM. Once you are inside before the controls are placed, you can visit the entire park for free until you come out.

-Barcelona has a lot of museums, like Maritime museum, Museum of History, Frederic Mares, Design Museum, Art Museum, Picasso museum, Hemp & Hashish Museum and more. On usual days these are charged a small fee (10-15 Euros or more), but the first Sunday of every month, and every Sunday after 3 PM most of these museums are free ! So plan your trip accordingly.

-Picasso Museum is also a must visit in Barcelona, and if you plan to visit it for free on Sundays, don’t forget to pre-book in advance online on their website.

-The magic fountain is closed in the month of January and February, and opens up again on 1st March.

-Stroll through the Gothic for some really exciting shops of Sex Toys, Marijuana, Souvenirs and more!

-For free music shows, be at the Cathedral in evenings. Group of people sing songs and play instruments, open air, good vibes !

-Login to meetup app and search for exciting meetups happening in Barcelona. Most common meetups are of language exchange and you can meet exciting new people !

-Walk into the Casino of Barcelona for an amazing experience. The entry is free, but remember to carry an identity proof.

-Beach is another exciting place in Barcelona not to be missed. Long walk on the beaches, that are clean and silent is an experience in itself.

-Dont forget to buy Saffron for back home, which you’ll find in Bouqueria Market. 1 gm will cost you 2 Euros, some places 2.5 Euros.

-Shopping on La Ramblas can be another interesting thing to do. Remember, bargain !

-Just walk and fall in love with the amazing structures out there !

-A shop called ‘Parallel’ offers all clothes at just 1 Euro each ! Yes you read it right, any cloth at just 1 Euro. Although these are second hand clothes, but you will find most of them fresh like unused.

-Plan a day trip to Tibidabo. Google on how to reach, and get one of the best views of Barcelona from the top of the church, which is accessible only via a lift (Lift cost 3 Euros).
The whole trip from city to Tibidabo and back will be around 4 hours.

-Look out for posters on the wall that talks about the upcoming events in the city, lot of Carnivals keep happening on the Ramblas.

Barcelona is an amazing city to visit, and there is a lot to do, see, experience and explore.
Hope this blog has helped you plan your itinery and make best use of your time.

Dont forget to share your experience & if this blog was helpful to you!

Gracias !

 

 

 

When Sunday became Son-Day and Fun-Day with #ShareTheLoad

1, 2  – socks out of shoe
3, 4  – shirts and more
5, 6  – trousers need a fix
7, 8  – undies cant wait
9, 10  – Every Son Can !

Well well, the above was the jingle we danced upon while our clothes were doing Zumba, salsa and much more in the washing machine. And to their company was Ariel Matic ! Ah cannot be a better jodi I say !!

The Ariel’s new idea of load sharing is quite nice and apt in this rushed world. And that’s when I fastened my belt and joined my Mom in finishing this task which was a great one hour of good fun !

Flashback:

Sunday mornings are usually lazy for me, and yesterday was no exception. While I was still yawning in my bed and snoozing all the alarms, Mom was all up & active and already done loads of daily chores. I was browsing Twitter, FB, Insta, Youtube etc while I came across this beautiful and eye-opening advertisement of Ariel :

As the advertisement ended, I had goosebumps. My sleep was all gone and I suddenly felt responsible. I looked at my room, it was messier than the guy in the video above ! I immediately got up and folded my blankets, corrected my bed, and picked up all those dirty clothes lying on the floor. While all this I didn’t realize my Mom was standing at the door watching me doing this. She was surprised, happily!

I then walked upto her and said, ‘I’ll help you with washing the clothes today! Here are the clothes, now tell me what to do next !‘

Mom laughed as this was a big pleasant surprise for her. She then told me where the Ariel packet was kept, how to turn on the machine, and the things to take care while using the machine.

We put Ariel in the machine, then the clothes, chose the right mode and turned on the machine. That was it ! Rest of the job our machine did beautifully. While all this was happening, we turned the TV on and enjoyed Kapil Sharma show’s recap, and didn’t realized that while we laughed and jingled, the Washing machine did its job and beeped. We opened the lid and a lovely aroma filled the house. Ariel not only washes the clothes perfectly but also gives a nice flowery smell to the clothes that gives you a happy feeling!

I picked a couple of my shirts to find them clean, shining and fresh like flowers. Oh yes, my another role was to dry these clothes on the hangar which I quickly did while Mom prepared Masala Tea for the family.

So in an hour, our clothes were washed and dried, we watched TV, and even had Mom’s special tea and snacks. That’s what happens when the load is equally shared among family members ~ you have more time with them ! And that’s how Ariel does it. Its an incredible idea, I say !

So, like this, our Sunday was converted to SON-Day ! And I pledge to continue this every Sunday, and whenever possible, to help my Mom do the daily work. I pledge to #ShareTheLoad in household chores in association with Ariel and BlogAdda.
Afterall, I am equally responsible too !

So, the message is clear, #ShareTheLoad, and here is how we said it –

 

So how did you spend you weekend, like Sunday, or SON-Day?

Fancy owning a Bond like car? The MG Hector is here !

It was a fine Sunday morning and we friends were on the way to Agra from Delhi to see the majestic Taj.
To flaunt, Rahul took out his Amazon Echo and said ‘Hello Alexa, tell me a joke’ and there was no response. We laughed at him as he made a joke of himself. He now cleared his throat and was ready for second attempt when I said ‘Hello MG’, and the voice came ‘Hello Prince’.
‘Open the sunroof, please’ I said in a normal voice as if I am talking to someone sitting next to me.
‘Sure’, and the sunroof opened. Everybody in the car was stunned. They looked at each other as they have seen something like never before.
‘Please play the song ‘Aankh Maare’ from Simba’

And the song was on in the next second.

Rahul and others looked at me in awe and surprise. Priya said ‘Is your car like the one of James Bond? Hahaha’

I couldn’t disagree because that was quite true. My brand new MG Hector has features that are coming straight from a Bond movie. Muscular looks, great pickup, voice commands, app control, and what not !

I was just adoring the lovely console of the Hector when Ankit snapped his fingers. ‘Dude, where are you lost’, come lets see the Demo of i-Smart in one of those glass consoles.

I was day-dreaming. I was day-dreaming about driving the all new MG Hector, on how I will flaunt its looks, power and features, as I have just witnessed the grand launch of the i-Smart console of the first internet car of India, The MG Hector !

We were at the JW Marriott, New Delhi. The atmosphere was electric. The crowd was ecstatic. And it was not even the launch of the actual car, it was just the launch of the i-Smart console of the MG Hector but still the energy of the crowd was unbelievable !

Note : Hector is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 15-20 lakh and will take on the likes of Jeep Compass and Tata Harrier.

The crowd was greeted with well groomed volunteers at the registration that was quick, and then moved to the tea counter for getting charged for the main event. Needless to say, greetings and socialization was going in parallel. The wall filled with the rich history of MG Motors made an interesting display.

Rajeev Chaba, the President & MD of MG India welcomed the crowd in the main hall, that was itself conceptualized wonderfully as a car with windows, sunroof and even the steering wheel!
Here is the first look :

And then the show began, with Rajeev introducing the i-Smart console to the crowd, which is a 10.5 inch, Full HD, always on and always connected tablet that includes an in built 5G ready SIM from MG Motors. And it certainly does wonders, like emergency calling, freedom from physical buttons, voice recognition and much more. Rajeev then also introduced the face of MG Hector – Benedict Cumberbatch, and the commercial in which Benedict uses voice commands to open the sunroof of MG Hector.

In the next move, Rajeev did that in the event hall itself !

Yes, you read it right.. the car themed hall’s sunroof opened when Rajeev commanded the i-smart to do so. The crowd went to cheers and applause. Have a look : 

Rajeev then asked explained the various features of the revolutionary i-smart technology and introduced the companies MG has partnered with. The company has collaborated with world leaders of technology like Microsoft, Nuance, Cisco, Adobe, SAP, Gaana, TomTom and more to bring to the users an ultimate, high end, seamless and safe experience of the all new MG Hector.
Imminent personalities from all these tech giants addressed the gathering about their role in the development of the MG i-Smart system.

Here are a few glimpses :

Note :  MG Motors will also start a Internet Car Developer Program in August 2019. 

The event concluded with a groupfie of all the top executives followed by delicious lunch. Every attendee was given a goodie bag as a takeaway from the event. There were glass consoles to check out the features and actual demo of the iSMART console.

However, my main take away from the event was the technology behind the Hector. Its great to see so many global organizations coming together to create something India has never seen before. Here is the list of highlights from the presentation –

• See all main information at a glance, via the visually delightful iSMART interface.
• The first M2M Sim (Machine to Machine) embedded in the car, IPV6 ready for 5G, making it future proof.
• OTA (Over the Air) Updates, the first in India.
• Voice Assistant, not just in navigation but for many other activities that let you focus on your driving. Efforts have been made to adapt voice recognition software to understand Indian users!
• 24-by-7 Pulse Hub that initiates an emergency call if airbags are deployed, along with call to registered numbers, with accurate location.
• Embedded Gaana premium account, hence lets you enjoy drive with soothing music. Features include seamless music, free downloads, ad-free streaming and so on.
• iSMART Next Gen app lets you stay updated about car’s conditions. Also allows you to control the temperature, sunroof, tailgate and door lock with just a few clicks.
• The ‘Find My Car’ feature on the iSMART Next Gen app instantly shows the shortest route to your car parking point.
• Real time traffic updates that help you plan your trip.
• The geo fencing technology on the MG Hector that detects if your car has left the pre-set perimeter and alerts you about it instantly.

With so many exciting features already available in the all new MG Hector, aren’t you excited about this car hitting Indian roads ? I definitely am !

And not to forget, the first look of the car was revealed too :

Overall, the #MGDriveIn event was an exhilarating ride. The #InternetOfCars technology is going to redefine the future of driving. The Future is here! I am ready. Are you ?

 

Living life the Smart way, with Smart Gadgets!

“Completed 3.5km today.  300 Calories lost. Not a bad start to the day !” 
I spoke to myself looking at my smart watch while I completed my early morning run. I then took out my smart phone to check the linked app to find that I was right on target of the day and the week. Weight and BMI was in the right range. Things looked good ! The one that I have is on flipkart here. It keeps a track of my calories and I owe my athlete body and good fitness to this app, certainly !

I then reached home and unlocked the gate via my phone, in less than a micro second. The smart security home assistant at the gate works directly via the control of my phone, so the hassle of getting down to open gates is easily skipped. Not just that, the smart security camera helps us know the visiting guests and keep threats at bay ! Get one for your home from flipkart from here.

“Whats the news today, Google?”
Google Home, my Personal Digital Assistant spoke to me the news of my interest while I ate fruits and cereals, just the right breakfast to keep the calories in check.  Not just news, but music, information and more entertaining stuff is all there in this coolest gadget ever ! Find Google Home exclusively on Flipkart on this link.
Also, its important to eat and stay in shape at the same time, thanks to the smart fitness app that tells me exactly what my body needs and should get.

I came home after a long day at work and needed a good rest. The smart light installed in the living room worked just as expected and I set to a soothing tone to calm the senses. Check out the link to this exciting product on flipkart here.

I then quickly went to my kids room and honestly the mess in the room wasn’t a surprise as I have been watching them all day via smart baby monitors installed in the room. I of course saved myself from any parent’s anxiety on their kids well being while they are away ! Here is the link to the Baby Monitor that I have brought from Flipkart.

We are all surrounded by smart gadgets. These not just make our lives simpler but more efficient, so we can find time to do the things we love. As a tech enthusiast, tech developer and tech preacher, I recommend everyone to use these gadgets, make the most of them, and add new dimensions in our daily lives to lead to smart living.

These products can rightly be classified in these categories : Smart Wearable, Smart Home, Smart Camera & Smart lights. I use all of them in some way or the other and I am sure most of you too, and its time to adapt to these new technologies and be smarter, literally !

So its time to #GetFitWithFlipkart and join in the #SmartHomeRevolution that Flipkart has brought in India that truly commendable ! Lets together build the nation when every home uses Smart Home solutions to simplify mundane tasks with a click.

I am a Smart Indian using smart technology to make my life simpler and smarter.

Are you ?

From #Bucket List to #BlindList ~ Exploring the Unknown!

Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

“So, whats your idea of a perfect date?” Ruchi asked me.

Ruchi and I are meeting for the first time. Its a blind date set by our common friend.

She is beyond beautiful. Her eyes are vast like the Goa beaches, her hair long as the majestic waterfalls in Coorg. When she giggles it feels like watching a shiny starry night from the vast Rann of Kutch. She glows like the colorful Valley of flowers, yet as humble as the deserts of Rajasthan.

“To walk together hand in hand on the stretches of a majestic jungle that lies on the edge of this planet, where we can jump off to another one, and catch one of those shooting stars and make multiple wishes, throw handful of snowflakes on each other, eat the finest of foods while it drizzles with sparkling water, and blows colorful winds, creating a symphony none less than Beethoven.” I looked in her eyes and replied.

She was quietly listening, with a constant smile on her face. It felt as she was imaging everything that I spoke.

“Whats yours ?” I asked.

“Quite similar. Just that it’d be nicer if there was a rainbow that we can walk on, catching butterflies. Then take a ride on a flying eagle across a vast ocean where dolphins greet us, elephants play trumpet and birds chirp to create a harmony. And not to forget, I want to lie down with you on a bed of cloud, watching the sun set into the unknown. That would be the best view ever.”

My heart melt. Our Bucket List was imaginary but felt so real with each other. Agreed we cannot walk on a rainbow, but can see many with each other. Right we cannot jump planets but can explore ours, together. Flying on top of an eagle sounds absurd but we can fly to many countries and still feel on top of the world. Together we can see the unseen, hear the unheard, believe the unbelievable and cherish some unforgettable enriching experiences that remains unknown until we are there, together !

Me and Ruchi instantly felt connected. Such is imagination ! Its unique to your thoughts yet it connects you to someone who has a similar one. The mere idea of having #TheBlindList – A blind date with the world, with someone you love, gave me goosebumps! Its time we #SayYesToTheWorld. Like the people in the video below –

We kept sharing our travel plans and how the idea of unplanned trips excite us both. We talked about our To Do list and who are our travel inspirations. We talked and talked until we realize its time.
The Sun was setting.
The birds were returning home.
The sky was light orange.
The voices were fading.

The setting was perfect.

We kissed.