Book: Outsiders by Jade Du Preez

This isn't a book review, because I am biased about this book. I consider Jade a friend. We are part of the same writing group and I was lucky enough to read the early drafts of her book 'Outsiders'. I can't review the book with a fresh perspective, but I can certainly talk about what …

Game: Hollow Knight

Over the last couple of years, I have written about games I absolutely adored. Stardew Valley, Celeste are both indie games, with satisfying gameplay and a strong emphasis on story telling. Hollow Knight is a similar game, developed by Team Cherry and released in 2017. It was one of games I was most excited to …

Writing Updates

I started the year with a few writing related goals. I am not touching those goals but I do know that baring any funding changes, I would be focussing on two story ideas. First, I want to write a new play. The idea for this one has been in my head for a while and …

Reblog: I wrote a play

I have been thinking about this day for a while and reading this post fills me with confidence that I can do it again. https://itsmayurremember.wordpress.com/2023/11/16/i-wrote-a-play/?page_id=3849

Anniversaries 6

Continuing the annual tradition, here are this year's anniversaries. Checkout last year's post here. I met my partner 5 years ago. (Can't believe this one) I have been blogging for 10 years! (Can't believe this one either) I have been living in New Zealand for 8 years. I have been posting on this blog biweekly …

Photo: Wellington CBD

We visited Wellington in the first week of Feb to celebrate my partner's 30th birthday. It was lovely and we were happy to good weather throughout our trip. Wellington CBD feels cosy and comfortable as compared to Auckland. It might be because we aren't familiar with it. But I hypothesised to my partner that it …

Book: Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R.F.Kuang

This post contains spoilers but it is not a book review. These are just my thoughts about the book that I absolutely loved. Books are amazing. I have read books which make me happy and few saddened me. There are books which made me think. And then there are books which I didn't know I …

TV: Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974)

When I was very young, I watched a simple animated show on Cartoon Network. What I remember about the show was it was about a young girl, her grandfather, their goats, their dog Josef and the goatherd Peter in the mountains. I recall being mesmerised by serene beauty of the mountains. The young girl Heidi …

2024: Goals & Hopes

To continue the tradition, I wrote down hopes for 2024. These aren't absolutes so if I don't get them all crossed, it is okay. Writing: One new draft of a novel. One new draft of a play. Complete revision on the play draft Publishing: A separate heading for this as this is not just writing …

2023 Goals Retrospective

2023 was a year of highs and lows. I experienced the worst pain possible. I said goodbye to Jimmy. I experienced joy and pride at my creating. In the face of everything that has happened, it seems meaningless to look back on the goals of the year. But I think I need these goals, if …

Final Workshop

I wrote about my play's first workshop which happened two months ago. Last month, prior to my play reading was the second and final workshop. There was a stark difference in how the first and second workshops were and I think this merited another post about the process. The deadline for second workshop was 5th …

Photo: Queenstown Mountains

I went to Queenstown in the first week of November to celebrate my birthday and also to take some much needed rest. I took a lot of photos there but this one is my favourite. The shafts of sunlight illuminating different parts of the mountain along was definitely a photo I needed to take. Just …

I wrote a play

My stageplay 'Why Me?' had a public reading session on 14th November at the Basement Theatre. The reading was done by four actors: Karishma Grebneff, Aman Bajaj, Pamela Sidhu & Natasha Daniel. It was directed by Sananda Chatterjee. Natasha also produced the event. We were in the upstairs Studio of Basement theatre and while the …

First Workshop

After months of preparations, six drafts of my script, I finally had a workshop session with the directors and the actors on the 5th October. I was super excited and also extremely nervous about my script. This was my first time actually working with other people on something I have written, even though I have …

Movie: When Marnie Was There (2014)

Studio Ghibli's 'When Marnie Was There' is unlike any other Studio Ghibli movie I have seen. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, it lacks the usual music, joyfulness and wonder that most Studio Ghibli movies or Hayao Miyazaki's movies have. It is also a bit slower than most other movies, but I think the slow pace was …

Katikati Bird Gardens, Tauranga

Katikati Bird Gardens is leisurely 30 min drive from Tauranga CBD, off the highway and at the end of a cul-de-sac. It is a privately run garden with a variety of birds and the entry fee is only $11 per person. There's a small cafe at the entrance, which also doubles as a ticket booth …

Photography: Mount Maunganui

The view from the top of Mount Maunganui, Tauranga

Photo: Sunset

The following photo is taken on-route to Tauranga at a scenic spot. We were lucky enough to be traveling at the perfect time to see this sunset.

Grief Two Years On

I wrote this letter and put it on Yuri's headstone last week on the 17th Aug. Yuri, It's been two years mate. I feel shitty to admit that I hardly feel any pain or guilt. The grief is gone and all I have left is some memories, the sound of your voice in my head. …

Introducing the family

I introduced my partner to my family over a video call last month. Surprisingly, it went well. When I was sick in India back in Feb/March I told my parents about my relationship. Before this, (I think) they knew nothing about my partner or that she even existed. My partner and I weren't ready to …

Game: Celeste

I have written about games I love before. Stardew Valley was the first game that made me realise that games can offer more than shooting or completing missions. Cities Skylines made me struggle (and am still struggling) with perfection. Celeste, I think, is a game which is insanely difficult and yet extremely heartwarming I first …

Submissions

Last month, I pushed myself to submit drafts for two writing competitions. And by following proper etiquette, my submissions were made in the last hour. I always thought with time I would get better with deadlines. It was only after my Masters I realised that it might not be possible for me to be on …

Photo: Citi Bank

Another photo I took the same day as Commercial Bay photo Citi Bank, Auckland CBD

Writing Update

I have been meaning to write about this but every time I do, something big or important happens. I have been sporadically writing a stage play for about two years now and the script been selected for Proudly Asian Theatre's Fresh Off The Page 2023 program. That's great! What is that? Fresh Off The Page …

To Jimmy, the best boy.

My dog Jimmy passed away on the 15th May 2023. He was thirteen years old. He was the best boy. When we adopted Jimmy, he was a tiny skinny puppy. He would eat too much and his tummy would extend and we would all laugh at how absurd he looked. And the next day we …

Possesion

It's Mayur Remember?

Pride and Joy

Yesterday night while coming home I saw a couple carrying a big plastic bag. I would have ignored them if not for the line of stray dogs following them. And as I watched I saw them take some food(leftovers or freshly made I don’t know) and give it to the dogs. The dogs hogged the thing down in a matter of minutes. And then almost every dog received a good scratch behind his/her ears.

I watched because sometimes even I have done something similar. I watched because I have seen many other people do the same. I watched because my dog was also a stray dog before we adopted him. I watched because in watching those dogs hungrily gulp down their viand there’s a sense of satisfaction(Maybe, I don’t know the exact feeling)

Today’s post is about prized possession. If not obvious by now then I’ll say…

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Two weeks, two surgeries

The last couple of weeks have been a particular tiring time: both emotionally and physically. I spent almost an entire week at the hospital combined. Of the week, two days were part of a planned surgery and the rest was because of an emergency. I have been suffering a particularly weird case of abdominal pain …

Photo: Commercial Center

Monochrome photo of the new commercial plaza in Auckland CBD.

Book: The Once And Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

I saw 'The Once And Future Witches' by Alix E. Harrow book in the library during October last year as part of the Halloween books. I didn't pick it up then but after my partner recommended it, I tried it. This is also the first time I am writing about a book that someone else …

Family Visit

I visited my family in the last week of Feb after not seeing them for 3 years. I was worried about my trip. I haven't travelled internationally in the last three years. I did not want to catch Covid during the trip or prior to it. The Covid arrival rules kept changing for India as …

Anniversaries 5

Continuing the annual tradition, here are this year's anniversaries. Checkout last year's post here. I have been living in New Zealand for 7 years. I have been blogging for 9 years. I have kept a biweekly post schedule on this blog for 4 years. I am now a NZ Permanent Resident for four months. My …

The Expanse: TV Show vs The Book

Last year, I finished 'Leviathan Falls', the final book of 'Expanse' saga by James S.A Corey. I was introduced to the franchise by the TV adaptation which has completed sixth and possibly the last season. After finishing the book series, I felt there are few differences between the show and the books. Before I proceed, …

Photo: Summer Twilight

I took this photo in during Christmas time last year. Yes, it is summer in New Zealand during Christmas. Twilight colours in the sky above a few houses

Script Reading Sessions

In late November & early December last year, Auckland Library & Call Your Friends organised script reading sessions in the city library. Every Sunday for three weeks, they read out a unpublished script; be it movie script or theatre; by hiring actors to sit to play the roles. I was able to attend two such …

2023 Goals & Hopes

I wrote about my 2022 resolutions last time. I was barely able to accomplish much but I wasn't disappointed, life happens and sometimes you accomplish everything; sometimes you don't. For 2023, I am going for new goals/hopes because I enjoyed comparing where I was a year ago to now. I measured a distance travelled, a …

2022

2022 was a normal year. It wasn't great, it wasn't horrible. There were good days, there were some bad days. In the beginning of the year, I made a post about 2022 goals and I revisited them to see how I have gone on them. This the status of the goals: (❌ = Not completed/Abandoned, …

Photography: Te Mata Peak, Hastings

It's Mayur Remember?

Te Mata Peak, Hastings at noon

The wondrous Te Mata Peak. This was the result of the best photo I took. My only regret was not visiting the peak at sunrise/sunset.

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Look at the time lapse of the drive up & down.

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Permanent Residency

After 6 years, 5 different visas I am now a Permanent Resident of New Zealand. The process for residency was easy but outdated as I had to courier my application to the immigration. Regardless, now that I have got it, I feel happy and relaxed. I rejoice in the fact that I don't have to …

Book: Teixcalaan Duology by Arkady Martine

Arkady Martine's Teixcalaan Duology consists of 'A Memory Called Empire' & 'A Desolation Called Peace'. The books are described as a sci-fi space opera in which Mahit Dzmare, an ambassador from Lsel station, moves to intergalactic Teixcalaanli empire. The series follows Mahit from the moment she steps foot in the Teixcalaanli city/empire and introduces us …

Photography: Cobblestone Lane

Durham Lane, Auckland CBD. Looking towards Queen St

Things I have learned in the last couple of months

I learned some minor things in the last couple of months, none of the things are big enough for their own post. So here is a listicle: Two weeks is the ideal time between jobs I started a new job last month. I was able to squeeze out two weeks off time between my last …

Book: She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

I read a twitter thread a while ago about diverse fantasy/sci-fi books and I put them all on my reading list. She Who Became The Sun was also on the list and it took a while for the library to issue it. I knew very little about it but I am jubilated that I read …

To Zari: Farewell and I will miss you

Trigger Warning: Death To Zareen or Zari as I got to know you, You were my first online friend. When I started blogging in 2014, one of my goals was to find a community of people who I can interact with and maybe even call them my friend. I don't remember how I found your …

Book: Jade Legacy (The Green Bone Saga #3) by Fonda Lee

Fonda Lee's Green Bone Saga is one of the best fantasy series I have read. The way I described it to my brother was 'Godfather' meets Hong Kong culture. However, the series and particularly the final book 'Jade Legacy' is what makes this series stand out from all other fantasy novels. Background: The Green Bone …

To Yuri, it’s been a year

Dear Yuri, It's been a year since you passed away. I still can't say that you have died because some dying sounds violent and painful while passing away doesn't sound like that. My biggest fear since last year is that I'll forget your voice. I had photos to remember your face but no videos or …

Passage of Time

Recently, I have been thinking about time. I think about my parents and my brother, neither of whom I have met in two and a half years. I wonder about my college best friends Paree and Abhinandan, whom I met five to seven years ago. A lot of things have happened since. My brother is …

Photography: Town Hall

Auckland Town Hall on a sunny day with Cirrocumulus cloud pattern

Photography: Snaps from Newmarket

Some photos I took around Newmarket, Auckland on a sunny day. A sculpture present on the corner of Khyber Pass road And Broadway Altezano on the corner of Kent St and Osborne St Broadway Cinemas

TV: Severance (2022)

Note: this post contains spoilers for Severance. Please watch the show before reading this, as I will discuss the finale here. Severance is a 2022 Apple TV show created by Dan Erickson. It depicts a world which is almost familiar but slightly skewed. This world would definitely become reality if the relevant technology existed. Severance …

Covid positive

After two years of dodging and being super cautious, I tested positive on Saturday. I started having symptoms Saturday morning so I am supposed to isolate until Friday, provided I stop having any symptoms. The first few days were absolutely terrible: I had headaches, fever, tiredness and I was pretty much bedridden. As I write …

Writing Discoveries

In the beginning of the year, I made a few goals: one of them being 'I will complete a story/novel'. After I finished writing the first draft of a play, I was confident and I wanted to tackle a new story idea without breaking my rhythm. I picked up an idea that I had come …

TV: Chernobyl & Smoking

Chernobyl is a 2019 TV mini-series which is almost a documentary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The show follows people of Ukraine (then USSR) and their sacrifice in this time of crisis, the people who unwillingly or willingly performed heroic duties. I don’t want to discuss what the people of Chernobyl and their characters did …

Swimming Lessons

Since my trip to the ER a couple of months ago, I had to start exercising. Currently, I am working in Auckland CBD and CBD has probably the biggest public pools conveniently located near work. So, I decided to enroll into their adult beginner lessons. Swimming has always excited (and terrified me) and I figured …

Blogging is getting harder

When I started blogging, I used to write when I felt like it. Or when a certain epiphany hits and I felt like the words were exploding inside me to come out. I do miss that feeling. Ever since I started my biweekly publishing schedule, I no longer have that luxury. In the last couple …

TV: Arcane (2021) – About Ekko

As I was writing about Arcane, I realised that I can’t really fit in everything that I loved about the show in one piece. Arcane is full of amazing, multilayered characters and I can’t do them all justice by craming everything in a single post. In this piece I want to talk about my favourite …

TV: Arcane (2021)

League of Legend’s Arcane (2021) is the only show I regret not watching on release. Usually, I prefer to watch shows after all the hype around them has died down. This way my enjoyment of the show is greater & I get to see other people’s opinions about what they liked, what small details they …

Anniversaries 4

Continuing the yearly tradition, here are this year's celebration anniversaries. Checkout last year's post here. I have been living in New Zealand for 6 years.I have been blogging for 8 years.I have kept a biweekly post schedule on this blog for 3 years.I have been a NZ Resident for 1 year & six months. My …

Health, Diet & Inflation

Embarrassingly, I have always assumed that the abdominal pain which woke me up at 2-3am was just gas. Why would it not be? The pain was gone by morning and I resumed normal life. I knew my lifestyle wasn’t the most healthy but I figured that as long as I am not having takeout everyday …

Photo: Teahouse on the lake

Teahouse on the lake, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

Closure

Trigger Warning: Suicide In the last couple of months, I have been looking for closure. Yuri passed away in lockdown and I haven’t met any of our friends since. In this waiting, I have pictured closure with visiting his grave. I think I want closure to look like this because his grave would be a …

On Finishing things

As the Christmas-End of Year holidays started, I noticed that I had a lot of stuff on-going or not started including writing work, programming projects, movie on my watch-list & games. I started the holidays with a plan: to finish as many things as I possibly can. I have always enjoyed completing things. Yeah the …

2021

2021 was not a good year for me. There were a few good moments, but it is difficult for me to look back on 2021 and not see a dark cloud of despair. I don't have the energy or capability to try and properly reflect on everything that happened in 2021. So, I am hoping …

Second Surgery

In the first few weeks of lockdown, I was referred for another surgery. I had a pilonidal recurrence, something I was told was unlikely after the first surgery I had in January. I was still reeling from loss of a friend and it pushed me to consider counseling. I didn't want to have a second …

Picnics with friends

Because of relaxing restrictions in Auckland, I have been able to meet few friends in parks where we have a small, safely distanced picnics. It's great meeting them, talking with them about stuff we have been doing and how we have been killing the paradoxically abundant & too little time at home. However, as always, …

I got a new job!

I got a new job! I am ecstatic and proud of myself. This feels like a long journey but was barely five months. During the few interviews, I constantly doubted myself and after them I learnt new concepts. It was a few weeks ago when I was offered a contract from a company 'N' in …

I know triggers now

Trigger Warning: Suicide I was watching the second season of Ted Lasso when in one of the most emotional episodes, there is a mention of suicide. I gasped as the scene played out, I felt my heart beat louder. It took me a couple of seconds to calm down and I cried with the emotional …

Fond Memories of a friend

I started seeing a therapist because I want to know how to handle my grief and guilt of Yuri's passing. Most days, I doing good and then someday I feel the grief wash over me again. One of the few suggestions from the therapist was instead of writing about my guilt, maybe spend some time …

Interviews again

I am looking for new job. I have been working with the same people for more than four years & similar products. Up until last year (when I got my residency), my job was crucial to get visas so I didn't bother looking for a new job. I didn't think about where do I see …

Odin the Cat

I miss Odin & Osiris.

It's Mayur Remember?

Odin

My roommate Emi is catsitting two siblings cats at the moment. This is Odin.

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Grief three weeks on

Its been three weeks since Yuri passed away. I miss him dearly but there are no more tears.

To Yuri, my best friend: I am sorry & I miss you

Trigger Warning: Suicide My best friend of 4+ years Yuri Reid took his own life on 17th August 2021. He was 25 years old. I wrote this letter to him as I grieved. Yuri, Marlowe & IUmang, Yuri, Marlowe & I: 2019Yuri & I : 2017Yuri & Marlowe Yuri, I am sorry buddy. I lost …

Post Play-writing workshop

Last Thursday was my final Play-writing workshop session. The session was held in-person at the Silo Theater head office in the city & was a welcome change to the regular Zoom sessions. The goal was to have a 10 page script table read by actors. There was no writing exercises or talk about writing concepts; …

Play-writing workshop update

It has been a couple of weeks since I started attending play-writing workshop. Next Thursday will be the fifth & last session. The next session requires me to submit a 5 page script of my work. I am not looking forward to submitting it. My submission is going to be visible to everyone, not just …

Photography: Empty

Monochrome of a empty bench under a streetlight I took this photo at the end of my Rotorua Treewalk. My phone couldn't do justice to the amazing & highly recommended night treewalk, otherwise I would have more photos to show.

TV Show: Ted Lasso (2020)

Ted Lasso is an Immigrant Story. I found myself remembering my first couple of days in NZ as I watched the first two-three episode of Ted Lasso. There are a lot of differences of course: Ted moved to a country with the same native language, a country whose people predominantly share his skin colour & he moved after he took a job.

(Reblog) The Right Side

Words from my older brother Navin about what his week looked like. : I suffered a stroke. The right side of my body lost all its movement. This includes not being to move my mouth, my face falling off with me trying to talk in front of my onlooking family. What should sound like ‘I …

Photography: Golden Hour

This is my favourite photo from my trip to Whangarei, Northland. Whangarei Falls Reserve, Whangarei I took it after I was walking back to my car and saw this lonesome bench draped in the golden glow of sunset. I knew before I shot the photo that this was perfect.

Play-writing Classes

A month ago, I attended a screening of a play in a local theater & I loved it. Afterwards, I told my friend I would love to write a play one day. The next day I saw post from the theater about play-writing workshop & I immediately applied. I am ecstatic to say that I …

Fiction: Silhouettes (Rehashed)

Siblings, each with their own idea of what to do with the father's legacy are on bad terms with each other. It is at the funeral that they all stand together and cry.

My Writing Plans

At the end of last year, I made a resolution to produce more writing & improve my skills. I haven't followed through on my resolution because I don't feel motivated enough. I am plagued by doubts: what if my writing is not good enough? What if this blog is the best I could ever do …

Photography: Corridor

The following is a photograph I took while walking through the sidewalk in Wellington, New Zealand opposite Wellington Railway station. Monochrome Corridor

TV Show: The Expanse & what I love about it

The Expanse asks the question of what if we travel to distant solar system bodies without any actual change in how we view our society.

Ben Howard makes me feel

Ben Howard is my favourite singer-songwriter. One whose songs leave me introspective & nostalgic. They start with a mesmerising guitar intro; enveloping his vocals as the lyrics are sung. His old albums Every Kingdom & I Forget What We Were featured songs I associate with morose & lonely places; and yet there is an ember …

Photography: Bridged

The Bridge at Eric Armishaw Park, Point Chevalier I have full recovered since my surgery and I am back at work. This photo was from one of the first walks I did since recovering.

Anniversaries III

For last year's post, check here Keeping up this tradition, this week : I have been living in New Zealand for 5 years.I have been blogging for 7 years.I have kept a biweekly post schedule on this blog for two years.I have been a NZ Resident for 6 months! (New) Aside from these milestones, I …

My First Surgery

Last Thursday afternoon, I had a surgery to remove a sinus in my lower back. I have been waiting for the surgery for a long time and, while the surgery was on a short notice, I had to get it done. My General Practitioner diagnosed the wound in my back as a pilonidal sinus back …

Repost: Tongariro Alpine Crossing

I reminisced about this trip from 2018: the first time I used a DSLR, the thousands of steps and the worst uphill ever to reward you with the most spectacular views. Enjoy: https://itsmayurremember.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/tongariro-alpine-crossing/

Movies: The Cat Returns (2002)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp-H_YOcYTM Cat Returns (Japanese Trailer) Studio Ghibli has made multiple movies in which a young adult matures after being transported into a 'another' world. The young adult overcomes obstacles and finds answer to the question: who do I want to be/where do I belong?. 'Spirited Away' is one such movie. The Cat Returns (2002) is …

Photography: Te Mata Peak, Hastings

Te Mata Peak, Hastings at noon The wondrous Te Mata Peak. This was the result of the best photo I took. My only regret was not visiting the peak at sunrise/sunset. Look at the time lapse of the drive up & down.

How I should write now

I have been running this blog for 6 years & change. At the onset of this blog, I published posts in rapid succession; followed by long periods of inactivity. In the last 2 years, I have adhered to a rhythm of posting biweekly on Thursday mornings. I have a list of ideas I write in …

Napier – Taupo DriveLapse

About a month ago, I went on a week long trip to Napier/Hastings - Taupo & back to Auckland. I decided to take a timelapse of my drives as I always loved looking at the roads when I drive. Here is the drivelapse from Napier to Taupo on the Thermal Explorer highway. https://youtu.be/ckYC9Y02veE Drivelapse Napier …

Photography: Kinloch

Kinloch is my favourite place which is twenty minute drive from the heart of Taupo. I discovered this place 4 years ago & since then every time I pass Taupo I wanna come here. Taupo, on its own is majestic, but this beach town is secluded from the highway & the tourists. Kinloch beach & …

Programming: Blog Post Re-share Bot – part 2

For more information, look at my previous post. Again, this post will be heavily technical. In my last post, I had started work on my bot but I had issues. I wasn't sure if I wanted to use the bot to publish posts via Twitter or Reddit. I did not have a stable database or …

Journey to Residency

FOR 20 months, my residency application was stuck in Immigration New Zealand's application queue. The system's glacial progress finally caught up with my application one month ago and a case officer started looking over my residency application. A week ago, I have been granted residency visa in New Zealand. I can't begin to tell you …

Fiction: Dragon & Princess

"SSHH.. It is not your fault." Sound of scales grating against the floor is heard in the empty hall. "They made you do this." The moonlight illuminated the hall just enough to see the body lying near the dais where an empty throne gathered dust. Tears sparkled against the moonlight on the boy's face as …

My Brother is engaged

ON 29th August, my older brother got engaged. Despite the Covid-19 restrictions in India, my family managed to make an occasion that they are rightfully joyous. Writing this post from the comfort of my home in New Zealand, I am conflicted between feelings of bliss for my brother, regret about not being there & apprehension …

Photo: Cable Car

I took this photo last December in Wellington. I edited it in RawTherapee and I really loved how it came out. Wellington Cable Car

Guilt

It was February when a couple took over a vacant room in my previous 2 bedroom house. Immediately after moving in, they told me that they can't live with the cats I was cat-sitting: Odin & Osiris. I had a two week trip to India at the time so the cats were gonna be put …

Photo: Chinese Scholars’ Garden

One of my favourite photo from Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton.

Game: Stardew Valley

I have written about pretty much aspect of my life and its passions: fictions, photography, programming & movies but I haven't written about how I spend most of my free time: playing games. To be honest, I never considered playing games an important part of my character. I would rage at losing while playing Rocket …

Movies: Little Women (2019)

I have never read Louisa May Alcott's 1869 novel Little Women. The first time I heard of Little Women was on This American Life's episode #680. I did not know there had been 6 adaptations of the book but I knew of Greta Gerwig through her movie 'LadyBird'. It took a wonderful recommendation from FilmJoy …

Photo: Puppy

One thing I missed severely during Covid-19 Lockdown was petting cats and dogs. Now, I get to pet them again. Puppy sniffing my fingers as it ran around me I took this photo as he was running left and right in glee and I am amazed this came out this good.

Programming: Blog post Re-Share Bot

Note: This post is a little bit technical and if I write any follow-ups to this, they will get more technical. I will try to make this as simple as I possibly. Also note: The Bot is not yet complete Paid version of WordPress offers the ability to install plugins. I am a free version …

Fiction: #4 Eureka! (Reblog)

Something I wrote all the way back in 2014

It's Mayur Remember?

He had given up. Defeated, he leaned his head back in his bathtub.

His last completed screenplay was two years old. Two years. He had dry spells before but this was his driest yet. It was not as if he didn’t have ideas, they just weren’t good enough.

The ideas were nowhere close to his previous screenplays. His three previous screenplays were successful blockbusters, the last one earning him a national award. Fame came on the heels of the award as he became highly sought after.

As he laid in the tub, he realized he had peaked in his career. He would never make anything as good as what he did two years ago. Nothing was every going to good enough.

He tried things to get his brain working again. He got drunk, a little in the beginning and then a lot. He was almost hooked onto drugs until a…

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TV: Good Place Series Finale

It is difficult to sum up a multi season TV series. NBC’s The Good Place has the following (cheesy) synopsis on IMDB: Four people and their otherworldly frienemy struggle in the afterlife to define what it means to be good. - IMDB Here is my take: The Good Place was a brilliantly made show which tried …

Lockdown Update

When this post would be published, NZ would have been under lockdown for a month. I have been working from home from my bed for the last 3 weeks. It is surprising to think that we are still in the 4th month of the year as this year feels so long. I went to India …

Movies: Parasite (2019)

In the last year, Bung Joon-ho's Parasite is a movie that I keep coming back to. Parasite might be the best economic class disparity movie I have ever seen. It is so tightly packed because of its absolute perfect direction and story that it is an absolute joy watching it and when the movie is …

Photo: Duder Regional Park

View at the end of the path PS: This photo was taken in Feb 2020, long before NZ issued Covid-19 level 4 alerts and a national emergency.

Photography: Flower Bud

Macro photo of a flower

I wish someone had told me

People age. Everything grows old. I can see myself aging. I wish someone had told me how quickly everyone around me would age. I wish someone had told me before I moved to Auckland when I come back, I would notice the wrinkles more. Everyone who I looked up to while growing up has aged …

Anniversaries II

See last year's post here. It has been four years since I moved to Auckland. I have been blogging for six years now. I have been posting on my blog on my blog over the last year in a pattern of one post every two weeks. I am really proud of myself. After six years …

House Chronicles

The following are a sequence of events which may or may not conclude by the time this post is published ( 30th January 2020 ). August or September 2019: My flatmate E tells me she wants to move September - November 2019: I stress myself thinking about having to move. Later E suggests that we …

Lack of Motivation

I have written about the new things I am learning. Now, as time goes on I am finding myself struggling to keep myself motivated with those things. I am easy to distract, most things don't hold my attention. My slump has impacted me the most at work. For about 2 to 3 months, I have …

Movies: Toy Story 4 (2019)

Credits: flickeringmyth Each Toy Story movies is unique as each presents a metaphor for different age milestone. First Toy Story dealt with teens/early twenties or college years. Toy Story 2 dealt with Woody undergoing a midlife crisis and questioning his life's purpose. Toy Story 3 dealt with the idea of retirement and the prospect of …

Photography: Soft Toy

I walk to work everyday. This is something I took on Monday as I was intrigued as well as amused by it. Orange Soft toy sitting on a fence

Thoughts on a book: The Friend by Sigrid Nunez (2018)

Grief is a hard thing to describe and write about. It is, I think, comparatively easy to write about when grief is thick like morning fog or when it leaves a strong taste in the mouth. It, when coupled with depression, gets harder to describe as most often when there is no feeling. It is …

Photography: Lake Rotoiti in Raglan

There are two Lake Rotoiti in New Zealand. One in North Island and other in the South. I visited the one in the north.

Fiction: Against the Caped Crusader

(A man and a woman are sitting in front of each other on a stage as the audience looks on and a couple of cameras pan across the stage. A massive sign behind the two people on stage says: 30Mins. The show goes on air and the audience starts applauding, the camera zooms in on …

Not Welcome

I have lived in Auckland for the last three and a half years. I love this city, and by extension this country. I have explored the city: found new places, food cuisines and occasionally new people. However, in the last year, Immigration New Zealand announced a flurry of changes which on paper looks like an …

First Blog/Ephemeral Feelings

I needed to post something this week, but I didn’t have anything ready. So I decided to Reblog something that I wrote years ago.

It's Mayur Remember?

My first blog.

Mind any who is reading i have never wrote any thing like a blog before.
I just read a blog by a blogger Ephemeral Optimism before I wrote mine. Though his blog was very interesting about opinions, I couldn’t help but relate to his username.

A few days ago I was just ecstatic. I was practically dancing anywhere, hugging random people. All because I scored great grades in my exams(yes I am a nerd).

Now I am back to being normal. And mind you I am not saying normal is bad, but by comparison it is really sad. So much hard work, so much time and sweat and I become elated for a few hours only?

That is the thing which intrigues me. And I could probably imagine things further down the line in my life. Why are good or great things so ephemeral?

And being normal…

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The Waiting Game

When I applied for New Zealand residency visa in December, I had a plan. Apply : December 2018Wait the estimated time of processing: 6 months, i.e until June-July 2019. It will possibly get delayed, let's say by half the estimated time so 3 months of buffer time, i.e September 2019. Usually, for visas I am …

Dogs v Cats: Who pets it better?

Eight months ago, I moved houses to rent with a friend. My flatmate, E, happens to be cat sitting two sibling cats: Osiris and Odin. Come November, the two cats will move back in with their owner. I consider myself lucky: I have lived with cats in Auckland and a dog in Mumbai. This made …

Harry Potter books and the mirror they hold

Image Credits: Scholastic Art is political. Ergo, books are also political. I have seen a lot of argument online about how authors shouldn't try to shove in their own political opinions into books. I don't think that is possible, as writing bares one's soul onto paper. An author is bound to throw in their political …

Photos: Karangahake Gorge

A couple of weeks ago I went to Karangahake Gorge, two hours west of Auckland. These are some of my favorite images from the day. The Gorge at midway point It was a beautiful day, bright sunny skies and lush green mountains. However, after editing, I liked the photos best when they were monochrome. My …

Fiction: I am going to Hell

First time I woke up after the surgery, my vision was blurry. I could still hear raging fire around me, but I didn’t feel any heat. I didn’t think too much about it.  The second time I woke up, I felt better. I looked around my bed to look for burned objects, but everything was …

Macro Photography

Recently, I brought a bunch of mobile camera lenses. One of those lens was a macro lens, which allowed me to take photographs of objects 1-2 cm away from my phone. Here are some of the good ones results. A RoseAnts for sizeWhite roseSize view I also created an account on EyeEm, an social media/marketplace …

What to learn for?

Part of being a developer is constantly learning new programming languages and principles....Some days I am good. Most days, I struggle.

Odin the Cat

Odin My roommate Emi is catsitting two siblings cats at the moment. This is Odin.

Bring Down Heaven trilogy by Sam Sykes

This is not a book review. Sam Sykes's Bring Down Heaven deals heavily with the questions about faith, Gods who never answer and humanity’s need to have a being up in the sky. It also features heaps of exciting battles sequences and the city which despite being destroyed to the fullest always seem to have someone selling curry

Hamilton: Zuru Glow

Two months ago, I had my first solo driving trip. I had just acquired a new license and I wanted to celebrate. I drove to Hamilton for Balloons over Waikato’s Zuru Glow night . In hindsight, it is amusing that I drove to the same city I went three years ago when I had just …

Short Story: Bliss

Fiction piece inspired by: RadioLab episode Bliss. Just listen to the first ~10 mins of it and smile.

Locked out

I was standing outside my room, a pizza box in my hand as I tried to call my AirBnB host after midnight. No answer. I was locked out. I was in Hamilton, it was my first solo trip after getting my license. ( I will post about my trip soon. ) The drive was great, …

Short Story: New Career

‘This worked at home’ I looked inside the hat puzzled, ignoring my audience of impatient 8 year olds. There was supposed to be a deck full of Queen of Hearts in there. But, it was empty. I cocked my head sideways, frowning. How did this not work? I had enchanted the hat with all of …

Blade Runner 2049 ( 2018 )

Also, after watching the original Blade Runner and then consequently watching this one, I am only going to talk about Blade Runner 2049. Also, this is not a review. I watched this movie partially when I was India but I couldn't immerse myself in it. The second time I watched it, I was able to. …

Short Story: Baby Brother

When I saw him two years ago, we fought. He stormed off into the night but eventually he settled into our mum’s garage. From the corner of my eye, I could see him nodding his head. He was high.

Shades of Loneliness

The library is a magical place. From time to time, I find truly remarkable books. Recently, I read Jessie Greengrass's An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk, According to One Who Saw It. I picked it as it was the only short stories collection I could find. I am glad I did. This …

Anniversaries

Three years. Five years. I have been living in Auckland for the last three years. I am not a guy to celebrate anniversaries but somehow this feels momentous to me My blog is five years old now. Five. If my blog was a kid they would probably be in school now. I am proud of …

Photo Post: Foggy Morning

Last weekend, I was walking through Ponsonby, Auckland to meet a group of hikers. This morning was special, it was particularly foggy. I could hardly see more than a few meters in front of me even though the sun had risen half hour ago. I took this photo after sunrise around 8:30 am. Sunlight imbued …

I am learning to drive… finally

People are always shocked when I tell them that I don't know how to drive. It is almost unimaginable for people to live in Auckland and not drive everywhere. There are a lot of cars in this city. I have to explain it to them that I don't need it right now as I work …

Conversation Starters: ‘How’s it going?’

I don't like that question. I hate asking or being asked the question, "How's it going?" It is a terrible conversation starter. I get it, meeting and talking to new people is pretty hard. Talking with acquaintances is even harder. So, it wouldn't be a surprise that it is pretty common conversation starter.  Almost everyone …

What is my blog about now?

I completely overlooked the fact that my blog is 4 years old. I should have made a big deal of it considering how quickly my passions oscillate. I am astonished that I haven't let my blog die. For the past 4 years, I kept writing without any theme in mind. I wrote about my life, …

With English Language

This post has been long overdue. I first thought about writing it when I was sitting in a bar with some of my friends. Half of us are non-native English speakers. I asked them, 'which language do you think in?' I wish the answers they gave me were revealing. They weren't, all of them thought …

Taking photos is fun now

I have always enjoyed taking photos and a while back seriously considered buying a DSLR or a mirrorless camera. The only problem with such a purchase is the camera isn't as compact as I wanted it to be. I ended up buying the new OnePlus 5T. I am not going to review the phone, it …

Photo Challenge: Prolific

Last Saturday, I woke up at 6am to try photograph the sunrise from Point Chevalier in Auckland. The sunrise was spectacular but this photo became my favorite. Hundreds, if not thousands of dewdrops.

Photo Challenge: Smile

I had to point my camera at something or someone that puts a smile on our face. Well, Zoey does that. She usually finds me when I am coming, she runs towards me: her feet clapping on the sidewalk and stops a meter away so that I have to get close to her to pet …

Musical Farewell

* Note: This post is more than a week late * Also, all people in this post are mentioned by their initials This was my fourth farewell in the last couple of weeks. I joked with P the other day, I am losing my friends. Some friends are leaving because they don't have a visa …

Photo Challenge: Rise/Set

This isn't exactly sunrise, I think the time was 10am. But I think this fits Rise. Also, I took this with my friends' DSLR when we were walking Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Photo Challenge: Favorite Place

This is not my favorite, but it certainly is this black Labrador's favorite place: standing on top of the garage. I have seen him/her so many evenings while coming home but the Lab's too far away to catch the name or pet.

Parting

I met Rohit two years ago after I started my Masters. Today, he leaves New Zealand as I wait for my visa to come through. Through the past week, I have been thinking about how today might play out. What will we say to each other? Will I feel guilty about things working out for …

Photo Challenge: I’d Rather Be

This photo was from a walk I did in Duder Regional Park. I would rather be near the sea, and on a perfect day like this, the shore looks amazing.