Jolly-good June

In a country famed for its festival-dotted calendar, June stands out as something of an anomaly, affording no relief from the drudgery of five-(or in some cases, six) day working weeks. This of course translates into a grumpy state of mind for me, known otherwise as a sunny-tempered soul.

So, it was after a lot of arm-twisting by a goof, oops, good friend – KB, that I rubbed my eyes and woke up to the happy times that June ushers.

Vacations. See the hordes of smiling-from-ear-to-ear children to know what I mean.

Picnics. And overflowing picnic baskets.

Long drives away from the hustle and bustle of the cityscape.

Renewal of swimming pool memberships. Splashing, smashing times guaranteed. Besides some treats for sore eyes if you are lucky – bronzed bodies, taut muscles – you get the drift, don’t you...

Fruits fiesta – luscious mangoes, tangy cherries, plump jamuns (Indian blackberries), thirst-quenching watermelons, ripe peaches, and of course, the staple – succulent litchees.

Traditional June-chillers – Aam Panna, Lassi and Chaach (buttermilk), Jaljeera, Shikanji or Nimboo Paani (Lemonades) and the ubiquitous mango shake. Besides of course, the perennial summer quenchers – beer, chardonnay and Sangria.

Cheerful, betel-nut chewing women selling corn-on-the-cobs, roasted golden-brown to perfection that beg you to sink your teeth into them.

June is also the month for celebrating the first man in everyone’s lives – Fathers. An exclusive day for Fathers on the third Sunday in June.

You also have the World Doughnut Day. A chomping-heartily day for sugar-lovahs...

And the less-known 'Take your Dog to Work Day,' which I wish my Organization would decide to celebrate. And which would surely delight my Labrador, Buzo, causing him to thump his tail wildly at the very thought of that adventure – the same tail that has been known to turn tables. Literally!

And now, lest you think that this post is sponsored by greeting giants, Archies and Hallmark, let me dwell-upon elsewhere...

The iconic Apple is all slated to launch yet another marvel. All technophiles and gizmo-crazed enthusiast are bound to go into a tizzy, setting up collecting sighs, drooling over the wonder that will be the iPhone 4G and red-letter that much-awaited date - 24. Now it remains to be seen when it hits the shores amd stores here, and how much it will make people pay through their noses...

This June, there are enough bigwigs lined up for the silver screen – and I have enough tick-in-the-boxes to do (with some leftover from alst month), what with SATC 2, Iron Man 2, Prince of Persia, Shutter Island, Karate Kid, Shrek Forever After, The A-Team, Knight and Day, and Robin Hood. Closer home – Kites, Rajneeti, Raavan, and It’s a Wonderful Afterlife.

While not all of them would be scorching hits at the BO, I’m hoping that not all of them would fall flat on their faces.

With the World Cup beginning in the next two days, hubby dearest has been scratching his head and recalling names of my long-lost friends, with whom he’s been suggesting I spend whole days with. Too bad that I called his bluff, and those ‘ Awww,I have such a considerate spouse’ choice of words have given way to the ‘Ohh, now I see’ glares.

And on a last note, as the heat starts to wane, it is time to look up at the skies, willing the fluffy, white clouds to do a volte-face, a complete make-over into grim, grey ones. The dry, scorching surroundings receive the welcome monsoon showers, a clean, fresh smell stemming from the till-recently parched, baked soil. The yellowing grass springs to a new lush-green life, causing many a person to kick-off his open-toed sandals and walk barefeet.

June sure is lovely!

And I’d sure enjoy it more if this horrid cast would come off!