Everyone loves deals, we are forever hunting to make the most out of our purchases. We pride ourselves on getting the best deals and if we can club coupons and get upto 50% off we feel like kings.

Truly customer is the King/Queen here.

None of us I believe is above the redeem coupon culture.

Today I ordered mithai for Diwali and since I was indisposed, I got Swiggy Genie to do the pick-up and drop.

Normally when we order food there is an option for adding the tip for the delivery partner.

I missed that Swiggy genie did not have such an option (or I missed it completely, since I was ordering for the very first time).

Due to the Covid situation we ask our parcels to be left at the basket provided outside the door.

I checked through my peephole and the Swiggy person left the sweets as per instructions in the basket.

I had kept some sweets for him (it’s a thing with us during Diwali, no one who comes to our door goes without eating a sweet or two).

After he had left and I went outside to collect my delivery I realized Swiggy genie had not given me any option to tip that saviour who went out in the hot afternoon sun, braving virus and all and got me my desired sweets.

It also got me thinking I had got the delivery at merely 37.50 rupees after applying a coupon (initial fees was 75 rupees).

I am wondering how it is even possible for a person to make any money in 37.50 rupees.

Even if the person took a bus, he would spend minimum 13 to 15 rupees to just get here from the collection point.

If the delivery person has got only 37.50 rupees, he would hardly make 12 to 14 rupees on that delivery and if he makes 10 such deliveries he will earn a paltry sum of 140 to 200 rupees a day.

And if I do not apply the coupon and say he gets 75 rupees, he will make maybe 50 rupees on my delivery and 10 such deliveries will fetch him 500 rupees a day.

I checked with Swiggy about my query. And was saddened to know that my coupon had cut his fees in half.

I have no way of contacting this man who worked so hard for such little money. May he be blessed with abundance wherever he is.

By no means am I happy with my coupon lagao paise bacho attitude.

I will also urge everyone to kindly consider how our coupons affect someone else’s livelihood.

We all circulate emotional ads about bringing a smile to someone, lighting up someone’s life. I believe we can do small changes like this and make a difference in someone’s life.

35 rupees savings on my coupon may mean something for me but it might make a humungous difference in someone else’s life.

So please #Couponmatlago

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The pandemic situation we currently are in has gone ahead and changed everything, right from the perspectives about work to job roles and titles to fluidity in role management.

This has not only resulted in the way work is happening it has also brought home a thought process and few dynamic solutions that fit the skewed work culture that is here to stay, possibly for a very long time.

One of the myths that the current working situation has busted is that work from home is not effective or fruitful enough. Along with it goes the thought that women who work from home are not serious about their careers or do not put in the required amount of efforts.

Right now as we know especially in India, working women who largely depended upon house helps and maids while they spends hours perfecting the pitch/ marketing/ sales presentations, prepare sales reports and attend to all office related calls without thinking twice because there is someone who had their back.

They are still doing all of the above while also preparing meals for the family and doing laundry and cleaning their homes and managing their time and work life balance with great panache.

So yes, we are capable of multi-tasking and so are the men, basically everyone can rise to the occasion if the occasion presents itself.

After the lockdown opens and we can commute to work there will be social distancing that will prevent us from huddling over the presentations, it will require some of us to be remotely present for meetings and yet be empathetic enough about what is being discussed.

Then there are those who might be bereft of travelling solutions for an exceedingly long time.

In places like Mumbai where people were already travelling what might seem like counties the situation was already difficult and now may seem ominously grim especially the late night commute with even lesser people on the roads or public transport may lead to safety issues as well.

While I am sure the Human Resources in all companies is working towards policies that will finally map the tangible result oriented work that is put in and not just the number of hours logged in, this will also cull the so called “in-office” hours that have very little results to show for.

Going forward this should also open certain avenues of career that allow one to work from the safety of one’s location unless required to travel for a really relevant event.

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A new wave of conscious consumers is sweeping the world, the resources that are scarce are now a fact that most of us cannot ignore.

Also, the current generation believes in sharing and thus showing that they care in a big way.

The same generation is also time conscious and believes in quick turn around time. Gone are the days when you bought something online and were willing to wait for it.

Today people are already talking about same day delivery if the seller is in the same city as theirs.

This puts immense pressure on Ecommerce Retailers because some of the players are still grappling with the challenges of selling online and trying to upgrade their systems for this huge shift in business. Their traditional mode of doing business is seeing a sea change. Some of these retailers have been selling in the age-old retailing manner and are yet to appreciate the new business or are too wary of including the change.  Others have been smart enough to introduce new talent and have incorporated new age thinking into the business. Either ways it is overwhelming to cater to the demands that most ecommerce platforms are now placing on the retailers.

Earlier the distribution model was a process and included various channels that can be bypassed today, so can the delivery time be reduced based on the new model?

Shared mobility is a term that is being associated with people sharing transport and Uber and Ola have revolutionized the way we travel.

So, what is the role of the same shared mobility in logistics.

Micro-hub & Shared Mobility: Like a common parking lot, a micro hub can be a small place where the packages for a zone arrive for last mile delivery. These micro-hubs cater to multiple logistics / transport companies. The concept itself is not very new in India where local state transport buses have been following a raw model of the same for years.

Retailers can take advantage of these solutions to reduce delivery time. Courier companies can reduce the cost and increase the number of deliveries per day without straining their network.

Shared infrastructure like this has its challenges and down sides as well. Some of them are administrative and responsibility related. There will be norms that need to be set and qualitative as well as quantitative analysis that will have to prove the utility of such hubs.

Currently in our own industry we have stakeholders that are not comfortable with the idea of sharing the same storage space or sharing the same vehicle with other players in their business. This puts a tremendous pressure for delivering as minimum as 2 to 4 packages in day. Consolidation, co-loading or sharing a hub could lead to efficient route planning and reduce the axle load, transit time for all parties involved at the same time cutting down on carbon emissions besides other costs.

But these hubs are not very far in the future for the industry that is striving hard to cut down on manpower, time, fuel, storage and build sustainable solutions that are beneficial to all the stakeholders.

With all the regulatory processes in place shared mobility is a win win solution one that will pose its share of challenges but will benefit everyone in the long run especially looking at how the realty rates are soaring, and the world is looking at shared mobility in a new light.

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Not only does it get the home cleaned thoroughly but you can actually turn some of the junk you may have collected into interesting decorative pieces to be used around the home during the festival.

This is how I have recycled my junk.

                   Use old saucers and plates to make interesting Diya / tealight holders.

Cover those old bangles with silk threads to match your festival dress and embellish.

                       Make use of the old CDs to make lovely hangings

                     Colour and end decorate old diyas

Reuse all the old wax to make new candles, use old pots, glasses, bowls jars

                     Turn those old bottles into interesting lamps

I am on a roll making the best use of all my old stuff turning it into something new and usable this Diwali and I am not done yet.

 I hope you find it interesting enough to try some at home.

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Go Bananas

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<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/vanish/”>Vanish</a>

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We all have heard of the man who wants to get you the moon. I would settle for one who could get me the moon earrings or the Chandbaali earrings.

Chand means the moon in Hindi and baala or baali means ring or earring so in essence Chandbaali means the Moon Earrings.

These earrings which have been around since the Mughal era are now making a sensational come-back and every woman wants to own and flaunt a pair.

It is believed that Noor Jahan (the only Mughal Empress to have coinage struck in her name) was the one who christened the Chandbaalis. Her love for these earrings was so strong that she was believed to have owned several exquisite pairs and wore them to her dying day.

The second most popular royals were the wives of the Nizams of Hyderabad who adorned their Chandbaalis with pearls and uncut diamonds.

Today Chandbaalis come in a host of metals, stones, pearls in various shapes, sizes,  and prices and can be paired with multiple ensembles instantly upping the glam quotient.

Though they have been a trend in Hyderabad for quite some time now, they have been popularized by the tinsel town and almost every actress has been spotted wearing one.

Well what are you still mooning over, get yourself a pair!

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In a crowded place like India it is a privilege to be able to live in an apartment which has a balcony facing a vast open space.

My home overlooks one of the main train stations and sometimes the visions are magical.

These were taken from a small lane. The Sun seems like a huge balloon, one that I would love to chase across all magical lands.

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/magic/”>Magic</a>

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The Ramoji Film City in India is located in Hyderabad. At 2000 acres, it is the largest integrated film city in the world.

One of the largest and glamorous film studios in the world, Ramoji Film City has also place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Spread across an area of almost 2500 acres, it is one of the major film making facility of the country offering everything related to pre and post film production. The architecture of the studio and the wide range of settings makes it one of the favourite spot for many film makers.

With a capacity to accommodate close to 50 film units at the same time, Ramoji Film City offers umpteen numbers of film sets such as London Street, Hollywood sign, Japanese gardens, airport, hospital, etc. , landscapes and buildings as well as laboratories.

It is also a popular tourism and recreation centre, containing both natural and artificial attractions including an amusement park.

The self sufficient film city with its facilities and setting is enough to make a complete movie. The place makes for an amazing sightseeing places catering to each and everyone.

For those looking for accommodation, the film city has two hotels as well namely Tara and Sitara. A villa Vasundhara and a few shared accommodations as well.

One can visit Ramoji film city from 9.00 am – 5.00 pm. On an average, the film city sees almost 10,000 visitors on usual days. There are various bus services operating from the main city to the Ramoji Film City. Once at the film city, you can take vintage buses providing visitors a ride of the area.

Interactive Entertainment: Ramoji Movie Magic brings the interactive entertainment of the films to tourists who be left in awe; as it stands out as a participative Odyssey into the realms of the reel where filmmaking is experienced live by the tourists actually participating in it.

Action: This enlivening attraction offers to turn anyone into an enthusiastic filmmaker on a 25 minute stint. Experience the audio-visual illusions of the reel world by being part of special effects, dubbing and editing through chroma screens.

Filmi Duniya, sends you through a virtual tour across the time zones and timeless cities on the globe. Descend upon the cities that featured in world famous movies in matter of eight minutes.

Ramoji Tower: Simulating the harmless but stunning experience of earthquakes, children playfully shout out of excitement when they feel the tremors and several other acoustic effects at Ramoji Tower.

Eureka: From the cultural imports of ancient India to the medieval forts, rich tales come to life through attractions and shows. Modelled on the lines of royal medieval forts, the colossal edifice of Eureka lavishly welcomes the guests into a host of experiences from welcome dance-and-song ceremonies to memorable merchandising in theme bazaars, a battery of thematic restaurants to children’s play courts and most exhilarating amusement rides. Eureka assumes the form of a time-machine that the visitors step into and stroll past the magnificence of Mughals, majesty of Mauryas, ruggedness of the American Wild West and the pomp of medieval Meena Bazaar.

Pictures are by me

Courtsey : http://www.hyderabadtourism.travel/ramoji-film-city-hyderabad

City

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The sun is playing havoc with my skin so invested in a new hat (I love hats)

But tell me does it look good?

Is it too kiddish or is it stylish
Should I be seen around in this or rather tie a scarf around my head.

Your comments are welcome

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Is that just a direction, a way to go or perhaps a way of saying things (things went south for him) and by being that does it become ominous?

So may interpretations to a word. To some it may seem nothing but a point on the roadway to others yet it may  mean the world. If you are a student the word probably has only geographical meaning.

But what if you ponder about the political aspects of the word and the nuances of how it is used in speech.

By the Global South reference it means the less developed region so by diplomatically  injecting the word are you being slightly racist?

According to the Greek mythology the south wind blew in the summer and autumn storms does that still indicate the various economic instabilities of the southern part of the globe.

In India all states below Maharashtra are ‘South’. So though there are multiple states with different culture, cuisines and languages everyone is clubbed into being a ‘South-Indian’ or ‘Southie’.

The tropical climate gives most of the southerners a swarthy complexion which has somehow made them less appealing to their Northern countrymen.

They are often the butt of ‘Southie’ jokes and attempts are often made to insult their intelligence. There is also a widespread fear that the ‘South Indians’ are after everyone’s jobs.

This form of racism within the country is as prevalent as any type of racism in any other part of the world.

The South Indian states are most literate (80%) and have higher national growth as compared to other parts of India.

They are also very proud about their heritage. A fact not many other parts of India can boast about.

Coming from various dynasties makes these people a proud lot and a colorful one too.

So maybe going south is not such a bad idea.

South

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Some of us are the best organized professionals in our offices at work but what stops us being the same in our personal lives. We strive our best to keep a clutter free desk and computer why then do we have a cluttered home.

Running a home is as much fun or as challenging as office work and the same principles and ethics can be applied at home too.

I have known some of my bosses to keep detailed files and folders both online as well as offline but when it is time to file the tax they just cannot find their documents.

What stops us from organizing our personal lives? It is a habit that can be cultivated and it only serves to make things easier for us.

I have learnt some of these amazing ways of an organised and neat home from my aunt who could tell you where the needle is (which drawer in which cabinet in which room) if you woke her in the middle of the night (no matter how groggy she was).

Here’s a list of a few things that we should follow in our personal life to make life clutter free, stress free and time and wealth well managed.

1. Keep a big box file with dividers for all your monthly groceries, electricity bills and other monthly recurring expenses. If you have a pc or a smart phone download the expense app or simply work in an excel sheet to create a budget. This helps in affixing regular spends and also helps in controlling unnecessary expenditure.

2. Make a separate header for miscellaneous spends or for buying gifts, specify the people you want to buy gifts for, the occasions and fix a budget which you can spend for them. Then out of your monthly spends keep aside a sum for these occasions. This will keep you on track and you will not have to spend more in a month and fall short on other necessary spends.

3. Make a separate file for impulsive shopping bills. This will give you an insight on how and where you are splurging and once in a year check the items you have bought impulsively. If you haven’t used them within a year you never had any use for them.

4. File individual cell phone bills, bank account statements, credit card statements (along with the payment slips to keep track of paid bills). This will ensure you have all bills in case of any dispute. They will also serve as your address proofs when required and the you do not have to run to the bank for statements when you have to apply for a loan or while filing tax or any such requirements.

5. File away all the electronics / appliances bills and their warranty cards. This will be easier to find when service for any appliance is required. Put the manuals in a separate box.

6. Keep a desktop or a large wall calendar where you can mark important things and events to plan in advance for any contingencies (like reminding yourself to book a gas cylinder when expecting guests etc.)

7. Make a payment schedule for all the bills to be paid, for this first make an excel sheet with all the Bills and their cycles and space out the payment schedule over a period of two to three weeks. This will not only bring regularity but also control outgo of funds and serve as a reminder to pay all bills.

8. Make a photocopied set of all the required address or id proofs such as the pan card, aadhar card, passport, telephone bill (do this for every member of your family) This will save you the trouble of doing last minute searching for Xerox centers. Also you do not have to then hand over these important originals to unknown persons if they come home to open a bank account etc (which can be quite a risk in this day and age)

9. Scan or photograph all important personal documents and email it yourself or keep in cloud storage.

10. Keep all important certificates and registrations in clear folder files.

11. Keep all bank related stuff in a designated drawer / space.

12. Assign proper storage for various items in the house for the ease of finding them when required. Like drawers for stationery, sewing material, hobby material etc.

13. In the kitchen device a system such that the older groceries get utilized first.

14. Keep a medicine cabinet (preferably inaccessible to children) and keep checking it regularly for medicine that has expired and throw away the expired medicines.

15. Make a schedule for servicing your appliances and mark it in your calendar. This will give your appliances a long life and may prevent any unwanted accidents.

16. Keep extra keys in handy places and marked. Like if you have children you need to ensure that they do not accidently lock themselves in the bedroom so keep the bedroom keys out of the bedroom but in a handy place and mark the keys correctly so that even if you are not at home you can instruct the person correctly as to which key to use and where it is kept.

17. File away your family’s prescriptions doctor’s appointments either in a big box fie with separators or in individual files.

18. If you are a home maker make a time table for the maid to divide the tasks that need to be done not so regularly so that when she has more time from the regular tasks she can finish these in the same time without being too stressed for time. This way you can get more work done on a regular basis without stressing either of you and without the maid feeling she is putting in more work hours.

19. For your own tasks make a schedule. If you have spring cleaning to be done do not do everything in one day. Plan to do it over a week or a month. Do one room at a time. This will not tire you out totally.

20. A lot of women have several purses, keep a purse/ handbag with all the things required when you go to the bank so that when you have to go to the bank pick that handbag and go, this way you do not change the purse and forget that one important cheque book. Also make multiple sets of your home keys and put one in each purse / handbag so that you are never locked out of your home. Also keep a minimum amount in cash required to get back home from the farthest point you would go so that you are never left stranded.

21. Also learn to divide your purse in an essentials and non-essentials area. Keep the wallet, phone, keys and cheque books etc. in a designated area and keep your other frivolous knick knacks and makeup in a separate area (makeup preferably in a small pouch to avoid stains from spillage).

22. All women have gold ornaments some we inherit and others are bought for their flaunt and invest value. Invest in a small weighing machine (you get the portable once for as low as one thousand rupees). Weigh all your ornaments individually. Better still photograph all the ornaments individually, using a simple software or while photographing them put the weight and any other comments on a paper and photograph along with the ornament. You will never get cheated by any goldsmith over the weight ever.

23. Taking it further catalogue (in an excel sheet) what you store at home and what you keep in the locker. This way there is no ambiguity ever and no confusion as to where your precious item are.

24. Now you will question me on how safe it is to store all this important data on your computer. First learn to organize your system too. Do not pile everything onto the desktop. Make separate folders for personal pictures, entertainment which will share with everyone and very very private stuff. Keep important information in not so obviously marked folders, learn to devise an identification system for folders which only you need to access and then there is the hide button.

25. Last but not the least instruct your children on following these protocols so that they grow up organized and learn the value of an organized space early on in life.

These simple everyday things have helped me a lot and saved lot of time and energy. Please tell me if you found it useful too. Also feel free to leave comments on areas I might have missed.

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It is a haven for people looking for new trends in the watch and jewelry industry.

A one of its kind show that year after year has served as a platform for various watch and jewelry brands to showcase their upcoming releases.

I was lucky to visit the show this year.

Though I was just a casual visitor what I saw left me yearning for more. Here are a few clicks (a few because I was mostly busy admiring the venue and the display and the vast array of brands)

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