FIFA Memorablia and a Doodle a Day

Akshay was following FIFA 2010 closely and had pictures and posters stuck on the wall next to his bed. He would cut out Messi's pictures from the KFC boxes. He would scan the Gulf Daily News for match details and other memorablia. His passion for the game was no passing fancy and he was keen to be in Brazil for 2014.

Google's doodle a day for FIFA 2014 would definitely have regaled Akshay. According to Ryan Germick, the doodle team leader at Google, interactive doodles can take months to make but this time they are doing it in two to six hours! They have an Inspiration Room at the office and entire walls are plastered with football memorablia.

One doodle celebrated Paul the Octopus who correctly predicted eight matches in 2010. He died in his aquarium in October that year at the age of four. That's supposed to be a long life for an octopus!

The Mexican wave was another interesting one. The letters are for the audience that support their teams in a Mexican wave. Letter L is the odd one out, as he is always late to catch the wave. The Mexican wave concept originated in 1986 in Mexico.

Football Frenzy

Things are getting serious at FIFA as the knock out stage approaches. It is evident when players start biting at the shoulders instead of snapping at the heels! I had shared this fun mail about the game plan of different countries with Akshay during the last World cup. Does it hold good for 2014 as well? Figure it out!

The French are a Beauty! Love the noodle map on the Brazil board! Akshay would probably have drawn out the game plans for the different countries himself this time

Mesmerising Messi and Other Animals

The football fever has gripped the world and Akshay's favourite Lionel Messi is at his mesmerising best.

Some of Akshay's friends are probably in Brazil to watch their favourite heroes live in action. The craze for animals guessing the match winners continues this time also. After Paul the Octopus in 2010, this year every country seems to have an animal of its choice. The Chinese have a panda and a turtle. In Ukraine there's a psychic pig. In the deserts of Dubai, Shaheen the camel has made four correct predictions so far.

The Germans have got Nelly the Elephant as a soothsayer. Roo the dog does it for the football fans of England. Flopsy the Kangaroo and Big Head the turtle completes the animal list. We Indians have our feathered friends who do some astro stuff. Surely, someone will have found Polly the parrot to help them with their bets! Nico the macaw is popular with Africans as is Newton in England!

Furry Friends

One of the interesting mails that I had shared with Akshay.We have all read the story of the lion and mouse as kids. This real life version of it, is with a leopard. The little mouse has come to lunch with the leopard!

Four Legged Fun

Archy was Akhsay's best friend. Akshay loved taking care of his dog. Giving him a bath and brushing his teeth were a routine on weekends. There was a phase when Archy's digestive tract would indulge in random acts with sound effects. This prompted Akshay to break into poetry which he had sent to us.

Hush little Archy don't you cry, if you fart we'll all die!!!

That fart humour is such an essential part of boyhood was evident in the 2010 break in Bangalore, when all the toot jokes prompted even Nanima to recollect a short poem in Telugu on toots that her father had told her. She made Suchit write it down in a notebook. It was really hilarious! By the way did you know there are almost 150 words for fart in usage!

This is Archy after a long hot bath

Pictionary Pictures

Shekhar, Carolyn and Reuben played Pictionary last month on Akshay's birth anniversary. Shekhar mama fondly recollects the regular Pictionary sessions and Akshay's drawing skills .

These sketches are from the office where we used to play and had great fun. Akshay was always anxious about Pictionary. He used to take it quite seriously. Some of his drawings used to belie his age. He made a great team with Carolyn who used to guess all his doodles. And he used to get sour if he lost or didn’t get a word. But he was as always great fun.

Little Stone People

Akshay would have loved this. He loved the little men in the Lego toys and another game that I had gifted him. What a wonderful summer holiday project for children! Ideal paperweights to gift to parents and others.