Hello all,
I have really been sleeping but have decided to get on my feet from this evening. Its already almost around five pm and its a Friday!!! However, no disco - those days are gone. Am going visiting my spanish "parents" - ones who gave me massive support and love when I arrived into Barcelona. It came naturally to call her Mama and the man of the family "papa". Two kids who became my "hermanos". All have come to my aid so much that I really do not know how I would have managed without them. Papa and Mama have passed away but my hermanos are still here and doing what they were and have even gone further to make the business more attractive. It will take me a long long time to explain the busiess I did/ have in Spain so will just give you a gist of the same.
I began with no money in my pockets but had a great formal suit when I went to meet the Coca colas bosses. I had the blue prints and patents for a concept that would really boost their sales as well as something that would be a special Coca cola hangout. I then went to all the booze companies with the blue print and asked them if they were keen to use my premises for selling their stuff - though I would not put out any ads. being a Coca Cola and my venture if they agreed. I knew they would and thats where the business began- slowly but steadily and still stands today.The entire business was about starting a bar! You will say Bar!!?? whats the big deal with a Bar. Well this one was very different. We got the coke people to come to the place to understand what I needed , the designs, cutlery etc. and the placements of what should be where. It was going to be a pure Coca Cola Bar - where drinks that go with coke would be served. The entire bar was Coca cola - the Bar in the shape of a coke bottle fallen to a side, all the stools and seats were the same design as the coke lids, the colors were all that coke used. It soon became the place to be in and as the finances got better we made two more - one very exclusive as it was open about seven months(summer) during the year. To keep away the rif raff (they are everywhere) we purposely made the place a bit too classy. We started a club too which gave a lot of benefits to its members and they were sold out in no time. The other one was again like the first but with some new additions where there were gome great things one could order from the kitchen. All the three were doing rip roaring business( and are doing so even now). I decided to do something else - where again I did not put in any money and I walked into a speacialized travel and tour agency which sent out about twenty and more groups to all parts of the world. Each group would consist of about thirty people of all ages and required a young person to look after them all. One who could communicate in English and Spanish. I was a good choice and the money far exceeds my expectations then. I got to travel the world free of cost, stay in the best of hotels free of cost, never had to pay for my meals and make a lot of friends. I would take about four groups during the period - three to the far east as it gave me a chance to meet my parents and spend some time with them. I would check the groups in for their final leg from Delhi and stay back for a few days that I could spend with Dad and Mum. It was a great situation as I would also get comissions from all the places the group members did their shopping. I was no very happy about it - but was told that it was a must not only by the local agency but also the main one. I would land up getting anything between 10 to 20% and that was a lot of money. The bars meanwhile were being well looked after - one personally by my "spanish brother", and the other two by some very very good friends, who I knew would never ever cheat on me - but I still made my brother the overall boss.
I decided if things worked this way - why not start a tour agency of my own? I knew all the routes. Both my Uncle and Aunt in India were travel agents and I would use their recommened local agents in the other countries - Sri lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Singapore and Hong Kong. The word spread with reasonable ease through word of mouth and a few ads. We needed a place in Madrid as well and I went across and met a girl who used to do the same business and I offered her a great pacakage deal with full authority to hire/fire etc. There was no looking back.
I decided to use some of the money that I had made to buy some properties and landed up buying the penthouse I was living in, two apartments on the beach front - which IO got demolished and converted it into one masive place with a lot of bedrooms as I knew come summer the gang would be litearlly living at my place. I got a good designer to do up the place and then finally I bought a cottage in the mountains - a nice cosy place - ideal to get away for a week end. I also picked up a small ranch and got a couple of lovely horses as I had a passion for them. I made "mama" and "papa" retire and live in the apartments. They were just more then thrilled. Since both drove they would go to the mountains or to the ranch or to any of the bars and keep an eye on things. "Mama" even began looking after the tour agency through which we sent off almost a hundred groups before I could not take it any more and just handed everything over to the girl in Madrid. Surprisingly she would send me my share of the money without fail, though I was not too bothered about it. I went a little further and bought three Ford cars -Ford Fiesta in canary yellow - one each for my brother and one for my two other friends. I then went and picked another for myself. It was nice as the the cars were done in such a way that one knew by seeing them the place they had come from. My spanish sister did not want to do all this kind of business and was/is a nurse - so we got her an apartment close to the hospital and a nice small car for her. So this is how I made my businesses and made them work for me. My pent house was the most amazing place anyone could have had and though I am saying it - I have never seen another like it.
I had started sending finances to my parents who had done so much for me ( we were really very middle class - a condition where even a coke bottle was a waste of money and a pair of jean - forget about it!). I also sent them all a lot of the latest clothing and am glad to say everything turned around even in India. Meanwhile I had no options to change my nationality and did so.
The pent house is the same as ever but has moved with the times - the PC , a huge plasma TV and home theatre- everything.It had been kept with the same care and love as I had left it in the care of someone very special.
Well this is a brief story of I nanaged to cope up in Barcelona and make a reasonable success of things. There is one funny incident I would like to tell you'll about. I was walking down (rather up) the Ramblas when I noticed this guy all dressed in a designer suit and suave looking following me. I did not pay too much attention as I was pretty used to have both girls and guys following me!!!!. Anyway he walked faster and tapped me on my shoulder and asked if I would like to have a coffee with him. I thought it was wierd - but then what the heck. I was in a public place full of people and if anything funny happened I could have managed him very well. Luckily nothing like that happened. He began right away by asking if I was a model as I believe the way I walked give me springy look and he liked the way my long hair fell up and down. He asked me if I worked out and how could I say not to something that I had been doing since I was a kid. Well after praising me to the skies, he introduced himself as one of the top designers in the world and asked me if I would model for him. I began laughing - I had done a lot of things but modelling had never crossed my mind. I told him I had no experience at all and he asked me again would I do it - he would arrange everything else. I said okay and after a handshake we were on our way. A few days later I got a call from him asking me to come to Milan and he had sent me the tickets - not bad - business class. When I reached Milan, there was this lovely limo to pick me up and the hotel was fabulous and the treatment being his guest was more then fabulous. He called and came over and gave me the timings for my portfolio shoot( I did not know what a portfolio shoot even was!). Well we went for the same and as I had a well toned body and a natural tan we finished the shoot and the team sorted out them out. My shooting began the very next day for the winter fashions for men - some great suits, ties, cufflinks etc. I shot in a number of clothing (I did not keep any!!) and then when all was done after a few days, I did about three ramp shoes and I was off to Barcelona. I had no idea the publicity I was going to get - soon there were billboards bigger then life at all the expensive spots and I was looking around in them! I put on the TV and there was Ananth strutting down the ramp. Boy - it became tough even walking down the streets any more. I did two more seasons with him till I had to stop due to reasons which were far more important. Now - everything was a dream. I had come to Barcelona as a petrified kid and was now a more confident kid as I had turned twenty six plus. I, however,never gave up my habit of disco hangouts on Firday and Saturday nights. It was a place called "Sunset' - and it was a great place. I never went to our places as I always had a feeling I would not be that recognised elsewhere.
Let me stop here- its been a long long story and has given everyone of my friends here a part of my life( I have left out the "hot" pieces!!). So, the return was required as here again I had to seperate the business and give it to those who have always stood by me through so many years. I have already more or less made up my mind but a little bit of fine tuning is required and all should be done in about a week or ten days and then its just relax.
I hope you all enjoyed this part of my life story. I am also putting up another subject which is very important to me and I request you all to read it very carefully.

With lots of love, hugs and xxx to all my girls out there.
Ananth

Hello all you lazy people.
I know well ahy no one has been on the net so far - but I have been doing my bit. I could not really sleep and being friday night, I did go out to the Bar that my "spanish brother" is looking after. I am really very happy that the whole concept has carried on and its still as popular as possible. I went to the bar and asked the barman for a cuba libre - white rum and coke and he refused until I had either given him some tokens or showed my club membership card.I had neither and refused to pay (though in any case I could not have a drink). My brother came to me laughing and he joined me in pulling the barmans legs (he must be really tall now) and then finally told him who I was. The barman was shivering after that and I jumped across the bar to his side and started serving with him. It was funny. Well the changes with the time have been done well - new LCD, the DJ systems etc. We went to all the bars and all over doing just great and crowded to its brim but the one on the beach front, which I had expected to be reasonably full was the most. They even had lines for guys and girls with a satin rope and a huge bouncer keeping them out or letting them in. I did not to play the fool here and I walked in with dearest friend and saw the place. It was doing really and I understand that its has been so for quite some years as the winters had not been too bad and a lot of people were still staying on there.I went to meet my "spanish sister" and did so while she was having a mini party at the moment - all girls/nurses and I was introduced to all not as an Indian but a brother. It made a big difference as I knew now I was home and should never have been obidient for once in my life.
Well all, till later to day,
With lots of love and hugs ( I wont mention the xxxx's for reasons ),

Ananth

Guess you didnt spot my post in cricket then sexy xxxx

Hi Liz,
You cannot get cricket past me and I did ready your post sweetheart - Hoggward looks Haggered and then we have an Indian Britisher who wears a funny turban getting the other wickets.
Check out the match India is playing Pakistan - the Paksitanis dont even know if they should stay on for the last test or go running back across the border as fast as they can.
Unfortunately, I do not get to see too much of TV as there are many other distractions and things to do. A stream of old dear friends, the elderly couple staying with us and on and on. Today I really worked hard at the gym and worked till I reached the amount I used to do earlier. I also ran my quota on the treadmill. The rest of the day was spent at home as I mentioned with friends. Being a Sunday - it used to be beer hopping day - well those were the days and the beer was stacked up all at home along with all the "tapas" - which we ordered from the bar down the road. Its going to be a early night as tomorrow my work starts and so does my concentration on whats where.

So honey, keep me updated on the cricket and I will update you on the "futbol" as its called here - and as far as I am concerned its "Barca" all the way!!!

Take care and lots of love, xxx and hugs,
Ananth

Long live Monty and his turban .What the hell is football any way lol

snogs and hugs liz

In many ways, this must be a very difficult journey for you Ananth.

I hope you milk every ounce of enjoyment out of it,seeing old friends and "family" is always good.

Hi Winnie,
Thanks for your wishes. The only difficult part was the physical part of getting from one place to another, especially keeping the distance in mind and my peg feeding. However, now that is over - life is a dream and seems so unreal. I find it difficult to accept that I am in my own home and with all te people who are really dear to me.
I have got down to work but just an hour or two everyday and its enough to make the Chartered accountants and legal advisors happy. I have made life easier for them by giving them excatly how I wanted hings done. I guess I should be seeing the final details by this week end and then milk every ounce of enjoyment I can out of life. In any case, I am already at peace with myself for having made this trip.

Take care sweetheart and with lots of love.xxx and hugs,
Ananth

Dear Liz,
I see that the English are slowly picking up their game slowly but steadily - however I do not get to see or read much about cricket here. As I said its"futbol" or football, soccer. They are crazy about the game but it really sucks when the Brits come over to play ( no jokes!) as they really get drunk and create havoc all over the place.

Anyway - I am not too hot on playing or watching football but rather watch the top league basketball matches as that is what would interest me most amid the games here.

My English is slowly but steadily detoriating - I have to really think hard before I put down anything and this always becomes a problem as I stop thinking in English and find it tough to jump from English to Spanish ot Italian.

So till later,
with lots and lots of love, xxx amd hugs,
Ananth

Ananth,

It also really sucks when the Brits go to Barcelona to watch football and get hit over the head with baseball bats, get their skulls fractured and get robbed. A huge number of those we met who had gone to Barcelona to watch the football had been either attacked or robbed. We had only just arrived at our hotel and two other guests (men in their fifties) warned us that they had just had their wallets containing cards, money etc stolen. It was like survival of the fittest walking down Las Ramblas. Robert was sitting in a bar with our teenage son when the Barca Ultras arrived and smashed the place to pieces. It wasn't just the amount of pick-pocketing that was going on, it was the sheer physical assaults that were taking place that was frightening. I can honestly say that I have never felt so frightened in any city. That isn't being crazy about the game as far as I'm concerned.

ananth
you absolutely blow me away,i love reading your posts where do you get your energy from man?you are high on life and its great to see it.take care lots of love shirl xxx

Dear Shirl,
I have never lived life on anyone elses terms. The problem with me is I have a difference of opinion on all most everything(not with friends though) with people who I do know from Adam who come to give their valued ipinions - on how I should dress, how I should groom my hair and all that. My logic is very clear - These peaople are just strangers you are walking by who will say a word or two and pass on and most probably you will never see them again. Now its upto if you take what they say seriously or act on your instincts. I have lived and loved every minute af my life and have been through it all - my sports, my studies,my first love, my first trip abroad and so on. Each day of my life is never the same except for one thing - which come what come may I have to - and that is my daily work out at the gym and running (the only time I could not was when I had a motorcycle accident and broke both my arms and legs).
Life too has been kind to me and what it gave me in the 42 years prior to Cancer and these few years now, I do not feel most would live even half that life style.
There are people who make ones life worth living. Seeing them everyday and seeing them as though its the first time you are seeing them and loving them more each day is I guess what really keeps me going.
Well, Shirl - time for my work out and run - so I am off and will catch up with all you'll later during the day.
With tons and tons of love,xxx and hugs,
Ananth

Hi Lorraine,
I agree with you that the Spanish fans are no less.The days when I am sure we are going to have problems, we close all our places making sure we do not have problems from any side. The mobs are crazy and especially if Barcelona is playing Madrid - if in Barcelona, they deflate all Madrid numberd cars and the other way around when Barca play in Madrid. Its a war - but things are getting better now with the cops getting a little extra tough on rowdiness.
Another problem we have is with the American sailors who get drunk out of their minds and are ready to pick a fight anywhere and with anyone. These we can handle and have done so very well in the past - after a couple of sailors broke their legs ( put that as shattered) and were thrown out with a warning about any sailor coming withen fifty yards of the joint would be arrested - we got a wide bearth.I still wonder if those two sailors can walk!!

All my love,xxx and hugs,
Ananth

Hi all,
Time passes so fast when one wants it to slow down. Its already been a little over five days since I landed here - home. Its not that I have or had lost touch with anyone - just that the last seven years were a bit too imposing and I did not find it viable to travel. I am glad I did this time - not just here but also to Australia. At least it gives an opportunity to wrap up all my legal issues before there are any disputes.
Last night was nice - we had both my "Spanish brother and sister" with their kids over for dinner. The kids are really great. Three boys and two girls and well behaved. I last saw three of them when they were just born and looking at them I realise how fast time has flown. This also reminds me of my two sons back home.
I worked out as hard as I could this morning and then we went to the "ranch" (its not really a ranch - but a small plot of land where one go horse riding). Some of old friends had passed away - but their off springs and few others were there. I was not too sure if I should get on to the horse but soon decided to and I cannot describe the feeling - the horse galloping with the coldish air hitting oneself. My nephews and neices were quite taken aback when they saw me lead out one of the horses and climb on with a saddle. It really took me back down memory lane.
I have stopped driving but that is hardly a problem as I prefer to walk around or if really required I am driven wherever I want. I managed to sneak some out right now to get on the net and see whats happening with everyone before legal eagles (Vultures?) and the Accountants come along. I have all the required papers spread out all over my bed - but guess its easier to find things in a mess that one has created then to have all of them neatly stacked.I do not forsee too many problems here regarding the same. The penthouse and "ranch" has already been willed along with my bank accounts to the person for who I actually came to Barcelona. I have asked her to look around for two more apartments which will be her name. All that remains are the one aparment in the city, the apartments and the cottage and of course - the coke bars.
I have an appointment with an oncologist this coming week. I have no idea why I am going to meet the doctor but could not say no either. The whole area is getting ready for christmas and almost all the shopping areas are packed all the time but will take some time off and go around the place to see what I can pick up that one does not have (a difficult task - as everyone has everything these days).
Well, am going to end here and will return on the net at the earliest. I think its time I introduced you all to some people who are a part of my life and the reason for my coming back to settle things.
With lots of love to all,
Ananth

look forward to your next post Ananth

Take care of yoursalf

Mum xxxxxx

Hi Ananth, Dam I have to come on here to find out what your up to next hehe
Glad your having a good time and getting out in a wonderful place.
Keep posting and letting us know how your doing.

Cheers
Paul