Merry Xmas, Dream Big in 2023!!! nguptatravelscrapbook.blogspot.com 23/12/2022 Blog 40
Merry Xmas, Dream Big in 2023!!! Blog number 40,
nguptatravelscrapbook.blogspot.com
23/12/2022
Dearest Kush and Aarav
The year 2022 is gradually winding up. Tik! Tok! Tik! Tok!
Xmas waves a magic wand over our world;
beholds, everything is softer and more beautiful ::: Norman Vincent Peale.🎅🎅🎅
I have put together this blog for my dearest Grandsons, Kush, aged 12 and Aarav, age 10.
The new year 2023 stances in front of us like a book chapter waiting to be written in numerous stories by setting targets and successes. We flip the old page with a smile and clinch the new page of 2023 with optimism and anticipation while aiming to spread kindness and generosity around ourselves.
I felt that year 2022 was like a rollercoaster ride occupied with panic and thrill but had hopes and triumphs. Let 2023 be the ride of enthusiasm and novelty. We thank Almighty God for a good 2022 before celebrating the arrival of 2023 and say thank you to teachers and parents alike.
As 2022 draws closer, Nana and Nani ( maternal grandparents) wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are all happy and merry together and congregate to celebrate Xmas and the birth of Lord Jesus Christ at Pelhams this year, hosted by Nana and Nani. We have a great menu selection for Xmas dinner with your parents, Akash mama, and Sera Mami bringing in the most delicious canapés and starters! Can't wait.😊
Firstly I have summarised the year 2022 year that we witnessed together.
On a universal front, it has been a turbulent year in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, the start of the war in Ukraine ( Feb 2022), the increasing cost of living, the energy crisis affecting the whole of Europe and the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II on 08/09/2022 aged 96. Consequently, King Charles III has become our new monarch.
You all paid your respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II by laying flowers at her Windsor Castle residence a few days after her death.
The nation came together in the utmost grief and celebrated the Late Queen Elizabeth II's life and the extraordinary 75 years of her reign during the ten days of national mourning. Her state funeral parade took place in London on 19th Sept 2022, with utmost pageantry, canon firings, bell ringing, Big ben chiming etc., as the nation joined in one solidarity for a queen, the likes of which we will never see again, It was unforgettable!
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the most significant armed conflict in Europe since World War II, has caused the displacement of nearly 16 million Ukrainians (8 million internally displaced persons and 7.7 million refugees), leading to widespread international condemnations and sanctions, and nuclear threats, and the exclusion of Russia from major sporting events. National Broadcaster BBC ( completed 100 years this year) provided thorough coverage of The Ukraine war and kept us posted with the latest global opinions on the war. As a family, we collected and contributed donations, which local heroes then transported to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Unfortunately, there does not appear to have an end to the Ukraine war, despite multiple international efforts.
Rishi Sunak, the first person of Asian Indian heritage, became UK Prime Minister in October 2022.
Many south Asian countries were quick to congratulate Rishi Sunak. India was once a part of a British empire, but 75 years after the end of the British empire, many Indian journalists gleefully pointed out how times had changed. As a family, we met Mr Rishi Sunak and his Deputy Dominic Raab, in August 2022, in Claygate, Esher, during the conservative party hustings, where he met members of the public and delivered a speech.
We look forward to the Coronation of HM King Charles III in May 2023, with added bank holidays to celebrate the occasion.👏👏👏
The global rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, has continued, and the year has seen the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the reopening of international borders for travelling.
The poorest nations have received a lesser fraction of the global vaccine supply, as wealthier nations offer their populations a fourth booster Covid vaccine. These inequalities create the conditions under which new virus variants can emerge, demonstrating why no one is safe until everyone is. With more than five million people killed by Covid, hospitals and health systems have been overwhelmed during the active phase of this pandemic. Lockdown measures have decimated people's income, especially in countries with no social welfare support system.
Hundreds of millions of children suffered several months of lockdown out of schools. Around the world, mental health issues have emerged as people grasped with isolation, job losses, and the grief of losing their nears and dears in the pandemic.
You both received the first and second jabs of Covid vaccination this year. 😎
Unfortunately, there is news of the emergence of another Covid variant of Omicron in China as I compile this blog. Let's hope and pray that this variant is also brought under control as before, with measures of achieving high Covid vaccine rates globally.
The global economy has increased its recovery from the pandemic. However, it has experienced an ongoing inflation surge, higher cost of living and increased costs in the hospitality industry, including high air travel costs, much greater hotel rates, etc. We note that most commodities and food now cost more along with higher petrol and diesel costs.
Extreme weather is becoming common as the world warms up further. UK saw the hottest day (40.3 C) on 17th July 2022. Our present King Charles III is said to be more focused on the environment, which could mean positive changes ahead. Plastic and polystyrene plates, cutlery and cups could soon be banned in England. Currently, an estimated 1.1 billion single-use plates and 4.25 billion pieces of single-use cutlery are thrown away annually in England. Disappointingly, as little as 10% of this is thought to be recycled.
The UK government is reportedly poised to unveil plans to phase out these items and replace them with biodegradable alternatives in the new year 2023. The latest international climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland (Glasgow Climate pact) failed to produce the commitments to keep temperatures to a maximum of 1.5C, warmer, threatening the world with tipping points and unpredictable outcomes.
Recurring droughts in East and Southern Africa and Afghanistan, flash floods in Pakistan and Latin America and violent wind and fire storms that affect even well-to-do countries are destroying homes and livelihoods and creating new vicious cycles of poverty.
Rising sea levels, changing seasons, and the threat of new disease outbreaks are affecting rural and urban communities as water resources shrink and food prices spike. People abandon their homes to find security elsewhere.
Mr Alok Sharma ( UK), the president of the COP 27 meeting, held in Sharm-el-sheikh, Egypt, brought nations together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and UN Framework Convention on Climate change. A once-in-a-generation cold snap is expected and forecasted in the USA with sub-zero temperatures this winter of 2022-2023.
In the year 2022, at the personal level, you both achieved high footings on most fronts, be it academics, school assignments, sports, music, drama or outdoor activities. We felt a juncture of great delight and pridefulness when we learnt that, Kush, you have been selected for King's College School, Wimbledon, for your successive journey of senior schooling. You would start at King's school in September 2023 after concluding your brilliant and most flourishing stage at Milbourne Lodge Prep School, Claygate, Esher, which you started at the age of 4+ and completing at 13+ years. On the academic front,you are holding top places, Aarav. Your parents had boundless joy at your success. With SATS scores in hand, you are preparing to take the Common Entrance Examination for a selection into a senior school the following year.
Kush, you attended a school camp at Tavistock, Dartmoor, Devon, this summer with enjoyable actions of river rafting and canoeing on river Tavy and hiking and tracking with your fellow pupil in the designated areas. Aarav, your summer camp ( two days ) from where you sent us the pictures of doing dishwashing and managing other aspects of camping were most enjoyed by Nana and Nani alike. You both loved these outdoor school experiences, reflecting on nature to your maximum while collecting flora specimens etc.
You both are learning, practising and achieving higher grades in music learning on Piano and Violin. Kush, you were awarded Grade 5 in piano and violin, and Aarav with Grade 4 awards in both instruments. These musical qualities justified you both to participate in your school's Xmas Carols this year. Along with that, you both got distinctions in Lamda drama this year. It is lovely to watch you, Aarav, now on to learning French Horn as your next musical endeavour. 🎶🎶🎶. Proudful achievements in Performing Arts!!!!
Performing arts
Kush, We enjoyed your outstanding performance in Joseph, and its Technicolour Coat play (24.5.2022) at Esher theatre. You looked composed, engaged and confident on the stage during this play. 🎭
Your school sports day was an impressive performance towards the end of the school year (01/07/2022) when we observed you both participating in various organised races like a relay, straight, hurdle, short and long races. The summer sports day was sweltering weather-wise, but it didn't deter you from your lofty performances. You both practice chanting Sanskrit Shlokas/yoga at your grandparents' house.
And remember your enduring long-term teachings and practice of Taikawandoo ( Kuk Sool Won) along with your parents. As a result, you have achieved Black Belt status, awarded last year by the Grandmaster of the same., who arrived from the USA.
You both enjoyed watching and held track of teams and matches in the FIFA World Cup Football this year, held in Qatar in Nov/ Dec. Your favourite team (Argentina) won the world cup on 18th Nov 2022, when the legendary, most iconic Football hero and the greatest players of all times, Lionel Messi picked up the famous trophy along with his awesome teammates.
You travelled with your parents far and wide this year, flying into Business class for the first time, and you tweaked these experiences further. Travel can make you feel purposeful and full of energy, experiencing your dreams at the same time. Travelling can involve visiting an art gallery, hiking through an unknown place, or savouring food with different flavours. You both love different cuisines prepared by your Mum or when in eat-out places.
This year, you had holidays in Orlando (Disney World) and Canada (outdoor bear safaris and glaciers, whales, dolphins, and sea lions watching). You were captivated by the beauty of Magical Niagara Falls in Buffalo, USA. You had another short break to the most beautiful island of Kos in Greece, indulging in sea swimming and visiting ancient castles, volcanoes, and rural villages. These travels put you in touch with fascinating local cultures, landscapes, people and, of course, the food! And more to come in 2023 as you both are heading for a school skiing trip to Folgaria, an Alps resort in northern Italy.🎿
Holiday chilling out
Tatha and Aav (your paternal grandparents) were able to fly over from Chennai, India, after nearly three years to spend time with you this summer. You both remained connected with them at regular intervals via zoom and Faced time etc., during the time they could not travel to the UK due to severe Covid restrictions. As a family, along with your Mum and dad and Akash mama and Sera mami, we had several get-togethers at home or at various restaurants locally, in London and Surrey, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, successes and occasions like Diwali and Xmas. We all enjoy and savour the food delicacies ( Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, pan Asian etc.) and click numerous photos to mark the occasions and toast together often at these meet-ups.
You both enjoyed watching many new science fiction-based, fantasy and superhero films like Batman, Avatar, Bad Guys, Morbius, Black Adam, Unchartered, Thor, the Marvel series, and Dr strange etc., in the local cinemas that you attended with your parents or school friends. You both love listening to Ed Shereen, Lewis Capaldi, Cold play songs, etc., at this stage. And Aarav, remember Suhana Safar with Annu Kapoor Podcast that you love listening to along with your Nani!
2022 marked many prominent deaths, including world leaders Shinzo Abe and Mikhail Gorbachev, entertainers Olivia Newton-John, Angel Lansbury, Shane Warne, Leslie Phillips, and a famous Indian Singer named Ms Lata Mangeshkar.
After decades of planning, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most complex telescope ever built, reached its destination in space in January. The first images of this telescope reached NASA in July 2022. The astronomers were in awe watching the images of thousands of galaxies in the constellation Volans.
Final Message for dearest Kush and Aarav in this blog
While we stay connected with our immediate and distant families, we always aim to be together for each other and our Dear friends. Do write in your 💖heart that every day is the best day of the year for you.
Auld Lang Syne ( Old long since or The Time Gone By) is a famous Scottish 🎄🎄🎄seasonal folk song that I have chosen to bring this narration to an end and to enhance the Xmas celebrations around us. Enjoy the song sung by Rod Steward.
Click here to listen https://youtu.be/Al7ONqrdscY
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
we'll take a cup of kindness yet
for auld lang syne
Once again, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Nani and Nana xxx 😊
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