My name is Ashwathy. My blog URL is http://thatslifemyfriend.blogspot.com/. I was born into this great world on March 18. I live and work in Delhi and am a consultant with a background in media/journalism field. I am a completely creative person with interest in reading, writing, music, dance and blogging. I love long drives (whenever possible), travelling, photography, and people with a sense of humour as well as humility and sincerity. I treasure my independence, and feel that no riches in the world can be a substitute for one’s freedom and individuality.
Interview
Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?
- A: Thank you. It’s truly an honour to be selected for the interview. That was a pleasant surprise alright! I’d like to thank the entire Speakbindas team for this opportunity.
- Blogging has been part of my life since February 2009 – pretty recent, right? The reason for starting it is kinda sober. I used to write a lot since my childhood, but had stopped writing in between completely. I lost my grandfather early this year… and the shock kind of kickstarted me into wanting to express myself somehow. It was a way out of my depressive phase, but today blogging is a very dear hobby and my blogmates are an integral part of my life J Over time, I was honestly amazed to see how much blogging becomes a part of your everyday life and how much of your life you share with friends you have never ever seen!
Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?
- A: My blog would be all about self-expression I guess. It’s my own blog, I do not run it as a team. And I write about everything under the Sun. I try to add a humorous touch to many of the posts, or atleast try to touch on a variety of topics. It usually covers personal experiences I’ve had… I add a bit of masala to it or tweak the topics according to what would suit the audience’s tastes, then post them!
- Considering the responses I’ve been getting… me and matrimony make a potent combination! ๐
Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?
- A: Can’t begin to emphasize on this one! Yes of course I respond to every comment I get. My previous posts are comment enabled and sometimes I get comments on posts that were put up eons back…and I wouldn’t even know whether these people will come back to check on their comment, but still I respond to them. Connecting with one’s audience is very important; it gives a very personalized feel to the whole thing. Plus all the recommendation, suggestions, criticism gets recorded there so it gives huge scope for improvement. Not to mention entertainment! Some of my readers end up giving comments that way funnier than the post in itself and that turns into another debate/topic in the comments sections! That apart, comments are through what I gained so many of my blog friends as well!
Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?
- A: Daily visitors? I don’t really keep track of that. But so far the number of visitors on my blog has reached a modest 3920. And this was after the program was uploaded on my blog in May this year.
Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?
- A: I wish! Right now it remains a passion… that too which I unfortunately haven’t been following all that regularly thanks to the fact that I don’t get time. But then I’ve never been the type of blogger to put up 5-6 posts a week. I usually stick to 2-3 posts a month at the most, take my time getting and reading the comments as well as responding to them one by one. I take time to develop and build on a post hence the break in between is welcome.
Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?
- A: I don’t think I am experienced enough to start donating tips yet! But I guess the best thing I can advice is to write from the heart. When one writes for a topic one believes in, it automatically shows.
- I generally avoid controversial topics on my blog, but then that’s personal choice. Treating every blogger/reader with respect and humility – no matter who be it – is one golden rule I follow. However I put my foot down when I come face to face with nonsense – which thankfully has been very rare.
- Never taking one’s audience for granted would be a great idea. The blogosphere has a constantly shifting presence… not every post will receive 100 comments. It doesn’t mean the blog isn’t good enough. However being grounded would help… getting too big for one’s boots is a surefire way of chasing away all the readers at one go! OK, enough advice already!!! lol
Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?
- A: Writing is my first love. To not write for 6 years when I took a break was like losing a part of myself. So having gained the ability to write and a medium to express it through is like coming back to life after having been left for dead. Need I say more?
Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
- A: Gloomiest? No doubt losing my grandfather – my mentor, confidante and trusted friend – to brain hemorrhage in January 09.
- Happiest? Let’s just say… yet to come ๐
Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?
- A: This is unfair. So many places to visit in this world and just three choices???
- The first destination would definitely be…. (no prizes for guessing) LONDON! My regular readers know the prominence well… they’d groan and roll their eyes. London was a case of love at first sight for me when I first set foot on it when I went for higher studies, and no other city has been the same ever since.
- The second would be Spain/Australia. Both are places I’ve been wanting to visit for the sheer tourist value in these places. Europe wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
- The third would be Africa. I’ve come to know that Africa can nothing like what they show in the media so I’d like to go see for myself what it’s like.
Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?
- A: Wayyyy too many to even begin. I watch all sorts of movies… and in all languages I know. English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil…. Have to start French now as well considering I know the language but haven’t started watching moves in it yet!
Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?
- A: Blogging brought me back to life in one of the most depressive phases of my life. Money is nothing in front of that. It showed me a world that I never knew existed. And not to mention each and every one of my invaluable blog friend.
Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?
- A: I’d like myself to be a little more relaxed and positive about what the future holds for me. After a few back-to-back nasty surprises that I never expected, now I am wary of every new thing that pops up in front of me.
Q: What is your deepest fear?
- A: Being lonely and unloved. This is opposed to being alone. Being alone is fine… I can find ten thousand things to do on my own, I’ll be busy with myself and my life. But being lonely, left out or unloved is something I won’t be able to take.
Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
- A: No doubt there. My grandfather. I miss him every minute of the hour, every hour of the day, every day of the month…. He left behind an irreplaceable vacuum.
Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?
- A: Can I start a new blog on this? LOL
Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?
- A: Should be around 500 bucks… erm…does it really matter?
Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?
- A: Complete foodie, that’s me! I love all sorts of cuisines and love experimenting. Chinese, Mughalai, South Indian, Thai, Continental, Lebanese… you name it and I love it! Sweets are my weakness!
- Dislikes? Hmm…nothing that comes to my mind immediately… I am generally adjustable that way, not too picky or fussy.
Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?
- A: I’d say it’s a double-edged weapon. Technological advancement has made life easier in so many ways. I can sit in London, listen to latest Hindi film music in Bombay, connect with my mother in Kerala, let my PVR record a live television programme to watch later, surf the net and dig up information being sent to me from thousands of miles away. It has brought the world closer in that sense. However at the same time, people are withdrawing into their own personal worlds. Whatever happened to interpersonal interaction between friends, families, neighbours? Life has become more mechanical and commercialized. I’d say I am probably the last of the generation that actually went out and played in the mud as a child. We’ll be lucky if we can show my grand kids some artificial mud to begin with! At the risk of sounding like a granny (which I do all the time anyway) I have to admit, sometimes I wish we could all go back to living life the simple way without the barrage of too much technology.
Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?
- A: What do you mean ‘next’? It is already the big thing! But then, it is not the ONLY big thing. Tweeting, social networking, podcasting and so many other new concepts are present. Each new phenomenon gets its 15 seconds of fame and disappears. We live in a world with a scarily fast pace. You have to rocket-pace into space to keep up with the newness of things!
Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?
- A: Grateful for the support. As always, love reading your comments… both the bouquets and the brickbats. Fortunately I haven’t had to receive too many brickbats, so my readers have been good to me. I enjoy reading the criticism more as it gives me chance to improve.
- As for my blog friends (Blog Samaj too!!!), love ya ALL. I’m so glad to have you in my life!! ((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))
Thank you Ashwathy for taking time and talking to us. It was indeed a pleasure.
Good luck for blogging ๐
The pleasure was all mine ๐ As I said, it’s an honour… really!
Am I the first one here from the blog samaj ๐
yes yes!!! yay!! ๐ ๐
yes u are! ๐ yay!! ๐
Where did my comment go ๐
I think there is comment moderation enabled which is causing the delay…
For some reasons, comments of some people are held for moderation. Or else, rest of the comments are posted in REAL TIME. And for those some reasons, only wordpress do know! Sorry for the inconvenience.
Hey Devang, thatz fine ๐ Happens with WP ๐ Some of them even land in spam for no reason ๐
Wow! That was a nice read ๐
Thanks for the special hugs ๐ ((((Hugs)))) to u too!
Waise, its a nice idea to start a new blog on music .. looking fwd to it ๐
Congrats again!
thanks ๐ ((hugsie))
LOL I m having trouble managing this blog and u r suggesting another blog!! Aiyoo rama!! ๐
But yes it IS a nice idea… have Vims and another friend of mine who have recorded songs and uploaded them. maybe i shud follow suit and torture ppl with my songs ๐
Hey Ash !!! That’s a very sweet interview !!!
So, writing is ur greatest love ??? How could u hold back for 6 years ?????
I love your humour filled blogs, especially the ones on Matrimonial Mish-mashes… ๐ ๐
Hugs to you !!!! Keep up the gud work !!!
aww thanks sweets ๐
hmm actually the break was for a personal reason. lets just say… it took a shock to make me stop wriitng… and it took another shock to make me start. emotional turbulence… part of life… what to do ๐ anyway i m back in action now, and thats what matters….!
haha thanks babe… as i said, me and matrimony make for a potent combination… ๐ ๐ ๐
let’s see… another installment shud be coming soon! ๐
Congrats for the well deserved honor & loved your answers ๐
thank you Smits ๐
Congrats Ash!
It was nice reading the interview
thanks ๐ glad u liked it!
Wow !!!!! Congratulations !!!!!
Your interview is as frank and straight forward as you !!!! I love how you come out forthright !!! beautifully done !!!
Loved reading this !!! ๐ ๐ ๐
hitchy!!!! ๐ ๐ ๐ u made my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
me throws a flying kiss at hitchy and then runs for her life as Hetal chases her, throwing chappals and kitchen pots n pans
waah!she rocks the interview as she does in her blog ๐
* blush blush *
gee thanx!! ๐
Jhaakaas interview !!!! ๐
Way to go Ashwathy !!! Loved it ; especially the photograph ! ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
and you are gonna watch French movies too ??? LOL ! First try and make some time from your never ending busy schedules to watch an episode of Idea star singer, then plan for some movies ! ๐ ๐ ๐
Btw, how come you didnt mention about OG or me in any of the answers?? ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ Oh, but you still didnt forget to write ‘London’ ! ๐
U loved the photograph? dey dey!! ๐ ๐
u know what??! funny that u shud mention it NOW! I actually did watch an episode of Idea Star Singer – their 150th episode. ๐ anyway who wud want to watch that show? some dumb judges going sa ga ma pa and torturing little kids abt their singing on public television?! reality shows are all a sham! (ooops… except the one u came on, maybe ๐ ) hehehe ๐ฟ
and why should i mention OG or you… are you two my first cousins or what? ๐
jokes apart, i didnt want to mention anyone’s names. if i start, then that itself will run into another interview! ๐
As for London, I am in love with it… head over heels. So I have to mention it! ๐
Now Now… !!!!!!!!
I aint letting hetal get a clue to this page !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ๐ณ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
Yipppeeeeeeeeeee !!!!!!! ๐
๐ ROFL!! ๐
And u called vimmuuu ‘saale desi ‘ when he nearly toppled over before my flying kiss! besharam kahin ke!! ๐ ๐
Ash, That was such a lovely interview! Totally well deserved and such honest and from-the-heart answers! Hugs! That was lovely to read!
I love that photgraph of yours!
As for the mention of London – why am I not surprised ๐
So sorry to have missed this and for landing here soooo late!
(((hugs!!))) ๐ thanks sweetheart!
hehe.. London baby! ๐ [P.S.: for reference, go to vimal’s latest london post ๐ ] lol
yea i didnt see u around which is why i mailed u the link! ๐ glad to see ur comment finally!
Go ashwathy! You sound so wise and ‘writer’-y ๐
and you’re looking adorable!
really??? ๐ ๐ see? this is why u’re my blog friend!!! LOL
thanks hun ๐
I don’t know if I have told this in your blog – For your age, you are wiser! And its a good attribute to possess… Congrats on the interview too…
Destination Infinity
no i dont think u have told this to me before – but thanks ๐ yes i get to hear a lot of that. i can tend to be quite a granny at times!
Congrats on the interview Ashwathy ๐
I agree with you technology is a double edged sword. It brought blogging as an option for all those who have lots to say and need a platform, but it also takes us away from those around us. I guess like many other things, technology leaves the option of using it sensibly to us.
I feel about writing like you do. Have to express and will find means and excuses to do so. I also started blogging seriously after I lost my dad. I think writing can be cathartic.
It was good to see your lovely photograph and a pleasure reading this very interesting interview.
thank you ๐
lovely to hear these words from u… didnt realise we felt the same way abt quite a few topics!