99 Posts In...

We're about to complete two years with this blog in May, though we only partnered up a little less than a year ago. Good thing too because can you imagine how much longer it would have taken a lazy, albeit creative Afsha to touch 100 posts all by herself?

As we enter this week, we're looking forward to Post # 100 which we think you, our readers, will find quite engaging. Won't say no more here. You're just going to have to wait and see. All we can say is make sure you have your iPods handy.

In this, our 99th Post, we'd like to leave with with a little flashback featuring the five most popular posts on The Caterpillar Cafe to date. They have the highest all time hits on our blog. But if you have a personal favourite that isn't featured in this list, do link us to it in the comments section. Do it. Do it!

Anyway, here goes in descending order:

#5: We introduced guest posts last year with this review by Firdaus Variava and we're really proud to announce that it ranked fifth on The Caterpillar Cafe. Thanks for contributing Fido! Our readers love you just as much as we do. Review | The Emperor of all Maladies

#4: This isn't quite related to books or literature per say but our blog does make an exception sometimes to make way for the voices in our heads. At number four we have Afsha Khan's misadventure in Germany with Flight of the SatNav Lady

#3: She surged ahead with shrewd confidence in the cut-throat world of investment banking. But who knew that beneath all those layers of numbers, figures and other stuff these bankers do that us normal folk don't understand, there lay a shy, sensitive poet? The first ever poem published on The Caterpillar Cafe by Reshma Krishnan, who hasn't looked back since, was well received by our readers. A Poem for No one

#2: "This is a honeycomb world. It hides a hollow heart." Need we say more? Author Spotlight | John Connolly

#1: Both Reshma and Afsha attempted this book and couldn't go beyond a certain point because of how disturbing they found the mother-daughter duo in The Piano Teacher. Curse their perfectly sweet, doting mothers, who left them unable to relate to Erika's deep-rooted insecurities, irrational attachments and psychologically manipulative mother! A Soul Burning Read | The Piano Teacher

Finally, before moving forward, we would really like to thank all our readers who have kept us going these past two years with their comments, encouragement and sometimes, by just lurking for a post or two before moving on to other reads. It doesn't hurt to say 'hi' but it's quite all right if you're still too shy. Keep reading.

Flight of the SatNav lady

No matter how many times I travel, I can’t rid myself of these bouts of paranoia. It's become a ritual for me to chew my nails, or the nearest person’s brains from the moment I wake up to the minute I receive my boarding pass.

Sometimes I go so far as to make a list of all the things that could delay my departure – traffic, taxis, breakdowns, cows – usually, this actually helps me strengthen my backup plan in case these calamities strike.

But on a recent trip to Germany, I didn’t quite anticipate the most terrifying catastrophe of them all – the SatNav lady. Let me just point out that if Google Maps is a dog, eager to please in any way possible, the SatNav lady is a cat. Go figure.

Anyway, we were to drive from Dilligen, an hour and a half from Munich, to Frans Josef Strauss airport. We got as comfortable as we could -- four adults with four large suitcases, two small carry on bags, not to mention backpacks -- when the following happened:

Please turn right and then take a right again.

Fair enough.

Please turn right (again) in 100 meters.

Are you sure?

Please turn right.

If you say so.

Please take a U-Turn if possible.

But you just said…

Please take a U-Turn if possible.

Well, you are the expert and I don't really have a choice, so...

Please turn left.

But that’s taking us back to the hotel.

Now, turn right onto the A8 to Munich.

But we haven’t even gotten out of Dilligen yet. We're not from around here but even we know that’s not for a couple of miles.

Please take a U-Turn if possible.

I don’t think she knows where she’s going. Somebody summon Google Maps… NOW!

Prepare to reach a dead end.

But.. I'll miss my flight! I need to sign into work tomorrow morning… I’ll loose my job! What did I ever do to you? *bawling inside my head*

In that case, drive on for a 100 miles and THEN turn right onto the A8 to Munich.

 Thank you. Thank you so much. How can I ever repay you for doing the job for which you were invented?

150 Miles Later

You have reached your destination.

Wait! This isn’t the airport. It’s the autobahn and no one seems to be going anywhere below 200 kmph. Damn you SatNav lady!!!!

(Some of the above might have happened inside my head)