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Adv Jaspal Singh

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Exploring the IT Job Market in Australia

- 13 May 2022

IT Consultant

Updated on September 9th, 2024


The IT job market in Australia is expanding rapidly because of the ongoing digital transformation across multiple sectors. High demand exists for roles such as cybersecurity specialists, software developers, cloud engineers, and data scientists. Cybersecurity, in particular, is a priority, with the sector projected to reach AUD 7.6 billion by 2024, and professionals in this field earning substantial salaries. Software developers and cloud engineers also enjoy strong demand, driven by the need for custom applications and remote work infrastructure. Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are seeing increased adoption, further fueling job growth. Cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane offer competitive salaries, with roles in areas like AI and data science commanding up to AUD 190,000 annually.

Cybersecurity Specialists

Cybersecurity remains a top priority for Australian companies, particularly as digital threats continue to rise. By 2024, Australia’s cybersecurity market is projected to be worth AUD 7.6 billion. As a result, positions like cybersecurity architects and managers are in high demand, with annual salaries reaching as high as AUD 190,000 in cities like Brisbane

Software Developers

The need for software developers continues to grow, especially in custom software and mobile app development. These professionals rank among the top 20 most in-demand jobs in Australia, with solution architects and technical leads earning up to AUD 190,000 per year in IT Industry in Australia & Tech Trends 2024.

Cloud Engineers

Cloud computing is another booming sector, driven by the shift to remote work and digital-first operations. Cloud engineers, particularly those working with platforms like AWS and Azure, are earning an average of AUD 112,000, while specialists such as DevOps engineers can earn up to AUD 170,000

Data Science and Analytics

Data scientists and business analysts are playing a crucial role in helping businesses leverage data-driven insights. In Perth and Melbourne, salaries for these roles range between AUD 170,000 and AUD 190,000. They also rank high in the top IT job trends

Emerging Technologies: AI, IoT, and Blockchain

Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are gaining momentum in Australia. AI, in particular, is now present in about 40% of industries. And IoT is being adopted in fields like healthcare, education, and agriculture. Blockchain is slowly becoming more prominent, especially in sectors like finance

Note: Figures used here are just based on random research, so must not be taken as exact figures

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Indian Puffing Billy: Kalka-Shimla Train

Jaspal Singh - 21 November 2021

Updated on June 5th, 2023

Running through 103 tunnels and 969 bridges, and 919 stunning curves, the Kalka Shimla train track is one of the world’s unique and most scenic railway tracks. Having a total distance of 96 Km from Kalka to Shimla, this track has 18 railway stations and 5 level crossings. The rail track rises from Kalka at 640 m to the cool climes of Shimla at 2.060 m. Compared with the Australian oldest railway of puffing Billy, I named this article, Kalka- Shimla railway, as Indian Puffing Billy.

Kalka Shimla Train
Himalayan Queen going through a tunnel on the Kalka–Shimla Railway route

Both railway tracks were built almost simultaneously in the early twentieth century. Though the Kalka Shimla train route was completed on November 2, 1903, they opened it to the public only on January 1, 1906. It is said that this railway line was first drawn in November 1847, almost 50 years before they actually constructed it. Lord Curzon, the then British Viceroy to India, inaugurated this magnificent train in November 1903. The Kalka-Shimla Railway was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during British rule, with the Indian rail system. The five-hour journey is one of the best train journeys for tourists operated by the Indian railway.

Train track passes through scenic landscapes

Natural beauty and pleasant weather greet you whole the way. A cool breeze sweeps across faces as the train crosses one station after another, like Taksal, Gumman, Dharampur, before reaching Barog, which is the almost mid-point of Journey. This journey encompasses a vast display of awe-inspiring landscapes. Barog is a colonial showpiece with bougainvillaea clusters tumbling down the walls. This station is one of the most beautiful and well-maintained on this track. From here, you can see the towering mountains. At Barog, we pass through the biggest tunnel.

Kalka Shimla Train
Train passing over the Arch Gallery Bridge
A tragic tale of Engineer Barog

A tragic story is associated with the construction of this railway track. The longest tunnel at Barog is named after engineer Barog, who sacrificed his life when he attempted to construct the tunnel but failed resulting in the wastage of government funds. Barog committed the mistake of digging the tunnel from both ends of the hill. The ends of the tunnels could not meet because of a mistake in alignment.

It is said that the British authorities lay a fine of Rs 1 on him for wasting government money in the tunnel. The British engineer could not digest this humiliation and shot himself in sheer desperation while walking with his pet dog. He killed himself near what now is the state government-run Barog Pine Wood Hotel. After his death, tunnel work done by Barog has left aside, and a new tunnel was constructed a little farther from the old one. After Barog comes other beautiful destinations like Solan, Shogai, and Koti, all these have wonderful scenery with towering mountains with green and deep forests. You feel like being amid nature throughout the entire journey.

UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage in 2008

It is a heritage train, a journey with breathtaking views and stunning scenery throughout the entire journey. Track passing through beautiful surrounding takes you near to nature and is a wonderful experience. Its speed slows down as the train ascends through steep mountains and curves. This journey runs on a narrow gauge, taking passengers with breathtaking views of rugged mountains. On the way, there are lush pine forests and waterfalls. And picture-perfect hill stations along the way that will definitely tempt you to disembark and bask in their beauty. The entire journey takes about five and a half hours.

Earlier the train used to run by a steam engine, but now a diesel engine is used. It runs at the speed of 40 to 45 km per hour as against the earlier speed of 22 km per hour. To preserve the heritage roots of the railway, it is suggested that steam engines be preferred, like the Puffing Billy train of Australia.

In July 2008, UNESCO’s world heritage committee added the Kalka Shimla train track to the world heritage list. On 9th Nov 2008, UNESCO officially declared this railway line a world heritage site. Also, the Guinness Book on Rail Facts included this track as the greatest narrow gauge engineering achievement in India.

Special Trains on specific days

They equipped this train service with standard car seats and have nine halts. Passengers can get off at the stations along the way and nourish their eyes and soul with beautiful scenery. There are also two heritage carriages operating on this route: Shivalik Queen and Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach. Both are luxury services, with ultra-modern facilities, including an onboard kitchen, refrigerator, dining table, and folding cushion beds. These trains usually operate once a week, from March until September. During the high season (May-July, September-October, and December-January), several special holiday trains also run on this route because of a heavy tourist influx.

Another such heritage train in Melbourne Puffing Billy train, a blend of history, heritage, and winery lunch

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Puffing Billy train, a blend of history, heritage, and winery lunch

Jaspal Singh - 1 November 2021

Puffing Billy Train

Updated on June 5th, 2023

Culture and heritage always attract human minds, and their roots give blood to our growth. No doubt life moves every moment in the future, but still past plays its role to shape our present and future. Many things of the past can be the reason for making our life more beautiful and worth living.

Puffing Billy’s steam train is one of those things of the past that are worth being preserved forever. I visited this dreamland during my visit to Melbourne in June 2010. As I feel on every travel, you see beautiful things; it was really a wonderful and memorable experience to see the rail preserved in its original look.

It is a railway track of 24 km running through dense and beautiful forest. Volunteers of Puffing Billy Preservation Society are putting their efforts to ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow-gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook.

Puffing Billy Engine View
Engine Front View

Built in 1900, Puffing Billy is Australia’s oldest steam railway. On the 18th of December 1900, this narrow-gauge railway was opened to serve the farmers in the area to transport their goods to the markets in Melbourne.

…reaching there

Belgrave, the gateway to Dandenong Ranges, is situated 35 km east of Melbourne. You can plan your way to get there. If you are not going in your own car, there is a second option to use public transport. Metro train service is available from Melbourne City to Belgrave via Ringwood. Belgrave is the primary starting point of this railway. It would take approx. One hour to get there. When I visited this place the first time, I used public transport, which is quite easy and cost-effective. After reaching Belgrave Station, take a short walk to puffing billy station.

Open-sided carriages add more fascination to the travel experience as you feel closer to the forest and nature. The whole track passes through many curves, where you can easily get the train’s view captured in your cameras. You can’t ever forget the thrilling sensation when you pass over an iconic wooden bridge. On the train, there are also several enclosed carriages, both saloon and compartment cars.

Belgrave Station: Puffing Billy Train
Belgrave Station

Menzies Creek, Clematis, Emerald, Nobelius, Lakeside, Wright, Cockatoo, and Fielder are the main railway stations between Belgrave and Gembrook. Neal Menzies Creek station, there is a narrow-gauge railway museum.

During my first visit to Puffing Billy

Emerald is a good place to stop off and eat and Lakeside to have a walk. Emerald is also the destination as well departure point of many trains of Puffing Billy.

..stop to relax at Lakeside

At Lakeside, there are many café refreshing points, lawns, supervised swimming pools, playgrounds, barbecues, and other picnic facilities, so passengers can alight here for a few pleasant hours and enjoy bushwalking, swimming, or just relaxing in peaceful surroundings. This station is 13.2 Km from Belgrave.

The operations and administration center, main refreshment room (also selling souvenirs), and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station.

Most trains start from Belgrave and travel to Lakeside and return. Except for Christmas Day, the railway operates every day of the year. One service each day has the option of first-class carriages and lunch.

..once decided to close, but preserved

This railway track was blocked in 1953 after a heavy landslide but again reopened in 1962 to Menzies Creek and in 1988 at Gembrook Station. A plan was made to close the line and a farewell day was organized. However, when people gathered to say goodbye, a dedicated group of train enthusiasts came together to save the Puffing Billy.

Kids on Puffing Billy Train
Children hanging their legs out of the steam train’s windows. The court banned this practice in 2019 after an accident.

Before you plan your trip, there are a few important things that you need to take care of. You must know the timetable of daily trains that starts from Belgrave. There were four trains daily when I last visited. You must check it while planning to go there. Trains have tickets that you also need to book well in time to avoid any issues later.

Traveling on the Puffing Billy train is like recapturing the romance and charm of the bygone days of the steam engine era. Puffing Billy steam train takes you through the dense and beautiful forest of the Dandenong hill ranges, and you feel like moving in some dreamland. It’s really worth visiting again and again.

Special events train for couples & families

If you are thinking that the puffing train is all about kids, families, picnics, and fast food, you are not very right. Sometimes on some occasions, special carriages are set out for parties with special cuisines, delicious foods, drinks, chocolates, soups, baked chicken, and different desserts. If you are looking for a unique and lifelong experience, you must plan to join special event trains. Puffing Billy is great for families and children, but it is also fantastic for couples, singles, and groups.

The century-old tradition of leg tangling outside train windows is banned

A minibus driver crashed the iconic pugging Billy train in March 2018. One passenger on the bus was injured, but no one was injured on the puffing Billy. The court ended the century-old tradition of children hanging their legs outside the train. Many people protested the court’s decision, but it ended what was a long tradition practice. Safety is more important than anything despite that, people love it as a kid, so they bring their kids, then they bring their grandchildren. Generations of families have done it for years. It would just be so sad to see that tradition disappear forever. Court’s decision is also taken as a complete overreaction by a group of masses.

Heritage Train in India: Indian Puffing Billy- Kalka Shimla Train

I will end my article by saying that traveling always helps us understand the meaning of life, become better people, keep traveling, and keep exploring and never forget to visit once in a lifetime, this beautiful adventure of puffing billy train in Melbourne. Read about more Beautiful Places around Melbourne

Puffing Billy-Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge

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My first encounter with Osho Books

Jaspal Singh - 14 September 2021

Osho Books

Updated on September 8th, 2024

Years ago, I had my first encounter with Osho books. I used to read books on different subjects in my college days, including literature, politics, and philosophy. One day my younger brother brought me a few books on Osho. Those were on different topics, and I started reading first, and that was related to Sikh thoughts. In fact, it was a commentary on Japuji Sahib titled Ik Onkar Satnam. I read it from page one to last, and I was so impressed with the way of explanation. I felt really close to Sikh Philosophy after reading that book.

Osho on Japuji Sahib: in three languages

View Point changed thereafter

But my experience thereafter was not the same when I started another book. I started, read a few pages and threw it aside. I started another book and felt the same. Ultimately, I got disturbed by all books and thoughts given in those books. I pushed aside all books, considering them meaningless and full of illogical thoughts. Why, can’t say but a few months later, I again picked the same books one by one and read all of them. I tried to absorb the ideas given in them. I read all books thoroughly. My impressions got changed about the ‘great thinker’ and his thoughts.

Osho Philosophy
Life is an open secret: Osho

As I am from a Sikh family, my mind swallowed the first book on Sikh philosophy. Today I see nothing but ‘conditioning of mind’ behind my accepting one book while rejecting others. I started reading Osho’s thoughts regularly, like fiction books. Today I have an extensive collection of Osho in my personal library.

Our mindset is a collection of past

I am putting here that our thinking is mostly the result of our conditioned ‘mindset’. What we conclude every moment is what we already had collected in our minds. Our mind is the experience of our collective past. Based on our experience, we see things as good and bad. ‘Things familiar and known’ attract our mind, whereas ‘new and unknown’ is not easily welcomed. When some new situation or new idea is given, the mind doubts, and starts analyzing it, again based on the old mindset. Rationalizing is simply finding logical reasons from old experiences.

Osho Books
Osho

Today Osho Philosophy and thoughts are available in enormous volumes of books, perhaps over 600 books, but here I am sharing a single point that we have to drop the old one to receive new in life. To fill fresh raindrops, you need an empty vessel in your hands. Mind is always in the past as it lives with definitions, principles, beliefs, laws, and disciplines. Existence is always fresh, and we can touch it with pure hearts only. The reality and potential of here and now can only be experienced and appreciated if we dare to drop our tinted glasses. We need to see life as it is, without analysing and jumping to our normal conclusions. Read another write-up On Osho in Punjabi.

Few other books I read and liked

Over the years, I read so many books on different topics. Osho has written no book, he has only spoken the whole of his life and his discourses are transcribed into books. A brief excerpt from sutras or scripture selected from the world’s religions triggered most of his talks, with each book focussing on one set of religious texts. Mentioning some of his transcriptions that I have gone through.

Tao Upanishad / The Way of Tao 

Discourses on Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, a book that will make you see reality upside down. “Good and evil are not separate. They are one, two sides of the same coin. Without one, the other will disappear.” Osho’s 127 discourses in Hindi on the Tao Teh Ching were given in the early ’70s over a period of several years and published in Hindi as a series of 6 volumes. Only the first two volumes have been translated into English as of August 2017.

From Sex to super-consciousness: 

A Book to make you understand that repression of sex does not make you free of sex but turns it into sexuality. You neither get free of sex by repression nor by indulgence but by understanding. “Become the witness of your sexual desires, too. Witnessing transforms sex into love.” With complete frankness, Osho (a disgraced cult leader) discusses the three stages of sex – physical, psychological and spiritual – and provides guidance on how this raw energy can be transformed into the realization of ultimate consciousness. 

Krishna: The man and his philosophy

Discourses on the colourful dancing god celebrating life in all its dimensions play with the entire universe. “Total surrender is the way to godliness, total acceptance is the key to wholeness.” The crux of this book says White contains all the colours of the spectrum, yet it seems to be colourless; it contains all these colours in a such synthesis that they all disappear

Awareness: The Key to Living in Balance

This book is an amazing compilation of Osho’s different talks and his answers to questions from seekers related to different aspects of awareness or consciousness. Once we can identify and understand what this quality of awareness is, we have the key to self-mastery in virtually every area of our lives. Awareness, says Osho, is the key to being self-directed, centred, and free in every aspect of our lives. In this book, Osho teaches how to live life more attentively, mindfully, and meditatively, with love, caring, and consciousness.

…… I will add a few more books here that I always refer to. Keep visiting again.

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REVOLUTION 2020: Love, Corruption & Ambition

Jaspal Singh - 7 September 2021

Revolution 2020

Updated on September 8th, 2024

The storyline of ‘Revolution 2020’, a recent novel by Chetan Bhagat, revolves around a love triangle. Gopal, the narrator of the story, Raghav and Aarti, are friends from their school time. All three are moving together but still carrying different ambitions and dreams. Since their school days, they were best friends, but “Love, Corruption, and Ambition” combine to bring differences between them.

There are twists in the tale as Gopal and Raghav both loved the same girl. Gopal comes from a middle-class family. He is the son of a retired teacher who sees ‘richness’ as his aim, whereas Raghav, who comes from a well-to-do family, sees ‘revolution’ as his dream. Parents of both want them to become engineers, but they are moving to fulfill their own dreams. Aarti, the bureaucrat’s daughter, wants to be an air hostess, but Varanasi, the city in north India where they all live, is too small for such ambition. She is beautiful and has all in her personality to be ‘a dream lady’ in anyone’s dreams. She seems always confused about whom to accept as a partner or a friend.

The entrance exam for engineering makes the initial twist in the story. Gopal and Raghav prepared for exams. Raghav cleared it with his first attempt, whereas Gopal failed. His father sent him for preparation to Kota classes, taking even loans, but luck did not favor him. While his one-year stay away from his hometown, Aarti and Raghav fell in love. He feels like nowhere, no admission in engineering lost his love and ultimately his father.

The first half of the story is ‘no story’ as in the Indian context; everybody already knows what the author is telling. Lacs of students appear in entrance exams like JEE or AIEEE, and few get their targets fulfilled. Teaching classes are part of a big industry, selling dreams and making money. These coaching classes are mushrooming everywhere, in big as well as small cities.

In the second phase, the story enters where all three childhood friends move further in their lives. Gopal got the opportunity, and with the help of a corrupt system, he became the director of the engineering college. Raghav passed out an engineering degree, but his dream is in journalism, so he preferred to be a journalist. He thinks somewhere in his mind that he will unearth scams, and corruption in society, to start a revolution. Aarti is struggling to be an air hostess. Revolution 2020 shows a few glimpses of a corrupt system in the education sector. Mushrooming of private colleges by corporate houses, politicians, and non-professional rich people. After failing to get admission to an engineering college, Gopal, with the help of a corrupt MLA, starts his own engineering college. Throughout the entire story, the author has described corruption in our education system.

The whole story is loaded with scandals; sex, corruption, and a love triangle are there to make it a tale. Both friends are in love with the same girl. It adds rivalries between them. A famous quote from the novel that describes many things is, “Life is a bitch when the only woman you can think of belongs to someone else”.

Most of the story took place in Varanasi, except for some parts in Kota. No doubt storyline is straightforward and depicts known facts of Indian society, but the book is still worth reading. Chetan Bhagat is a wonderful storyteller. The language has a good flow and is easy to read. The author has been very successful in using current social/political situations in the novel to affect the overall progress of the story.

The novel’s end is totally unpredictable and leaves the reader in a state of shock for few moments. You may disagree with such an ending like me as it is vague and overdramatic, perhaps inspired by Bollywood drama movies. It certainly has many weak points, but Revolution 2020 is ‘A must read‘.

more books by Chetan Bhagat.
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You CAN sell it with selling skills.

Bhawana - 6 September 2021

Increase company sales concept. Businessman plan sales growth.

Updated on September 8th, 2024

Marketing is not only selling the product or service. It is creating a demand for the product or service you are selling or marketing. Need and supply logic work here. It is a requirement in business these days as it helps in increasing sales. It is a vast topic that has wide boundaries, but as a writer, I am trying to highlight a few points which can be helpful to a few. Selling skills are very important. if you are in this profession.

If I say selling is an art, there will be no overstatement. One must develop a few qualities to be a successful salesperson. And finally, you must have a few words in your mind and those words are that you can sell it.

You can sell it
The most beautiful curve is a rising sales graph

Who can sell?

Here are a few things that are helpful for any successful sales agent. A good salesperson can be men or a woman and can also sell the products of a weak organization. It is very difficult to give a list of the traits or qualities or selling skills of a good sales agent. Below is the list, though there can be no last list.

  • A person who is confident
  • Energetic person who never feels tired
  • One who can create a conversation
  • One who can lead the group
  • A friendly person whom people like to talk
  • Open-minded and enthusiastic person
  • A speaker with a variety of subject
  • A Leader who can lead others
  • Well-motivated and focused
  • A person whose ideologies are clear
  • Who have logical concepts
  • One who can create interest in the conversation
  • Who has faith in himself as a salesperson?
  • One who believes I can do it
  • Who is positive, Interactive, and creative
  • A salesperson who has strong communication skills
  • A person who is open-minded
  • Who welcomes questions and nerve feels irritated
  • One who has relationship-building skills in himself or herself
  • One who knows how to build eye contact with a person sitting opposite, as it is very important
  • A sales Rep is one who has the ability to involve people in communication
  • One who can create bound
  • Who is attentive, active, goal-oriented, and sharp minded
  • One who is always ready to learn
  • One who has a passion to do what he/she is doing

In the last

As a salesperson, you don’t sell the product as you sell yourself to the customer, as you are the face of the product. I have tried to highlight a few things which are really important in a Marketing Representative as that helps them to sell. Hope this write will help readers to develop the art of selling. Here I am sharing links to a few good reads on the art of selling, and selling skills.

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Education need wisdom: On Teacher’s Day

Bhawana - 5 September 2021

Updated on September 6th, 2021

Sharing this blog on Teacher’s Day…A young man saw his primary school teacher at a wedding. He went to greet him with all the respect and admiration. He said to him “Do you remember me, Teacher?” The teacher said: “No, please introduce yourself.” The student said: “I was your student in the 3rd grade. I am the one who stole the watch of a child in the classroom. I will remind you, but I am sure you remember the story.”

One boy had a beautiful watch

One boy in my class had a beautiful watch, so I decided to steal it. He came to you crying that someone had stolen his watch. You asked us to stand to search our pockets. I realized it would expose my action in front of the students and teachers. I will be called a thief, a liar and my character will be shattered forever.

A Teacher nourishes the soul of a child for a lifetime

You asked us to stand and face the wall and close our eyes completely. You went searching from pocket to pocket, and when you reached my pocket, you pulled the watch out of my pocket, and you continued until you searched for the last student.

Great idea of search

After you finished, you asked us to open our eyes and to sit on our chairs. I was afraid you will expose me in front of the students. You showed the watch to the class and gave it back to the boy, and you never mentioned the name of the one who stole the watch. You never said a word to me, and you never mentioned the story to anyone.

Throughout my school life, none of the teachers nor the students talked about me stealing the watch. I thought to myself, you saved my dignity that day.

The teacher said: “I can’t remember who stole the watch that day because I searched the pockets of all of you while my eyes were also closed.”

Education needs wisdom. As teachers, parents, leaders, we should be able to understand the consequences of our actions. Let’s do something logical to celebrate teacher’s day.

Protecting and reforming is tougher than exposing and expelling… #Teacher’s Day

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Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder

Bhawana - 1 September 2021

Updated on September 8th, 2024

I am beautiful. That’s why he loves me, or I am beautiful because he loves me. I am writing this article titled ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ thinking of a girl who is very sweet, simple and soft-hearted. She loves everything that comes her way. Never complaining and is always very social. She loves to make friends and pass time with her friends. She can’t even recall a day where she is alone, as she hates being alone. Her life is simple going and without stress, she is vivacious and enthusiastic. She adds charm to the party and is an eye-catcher and always spreads positive fragrance where she is present. She is so motivated that I can’t express it in words.

One day I walked close to her and asked her a question about how do you remain so motivated, lively and smiling all the time. She turned back and hugged me and said, darling when you will fall in love you will understand this yourself. I was too young to understand what she meant by saying this. But then I was waiting for the time when I fell in love and feel like her on top of the world.

One day, after waiting for a long time, I came across my love. And then somewhere I was thinking of her words. Life was going well, and I was so happy and fully motivated, but something was still missing. One day I asked myself, looking in the mirror, that I am looking different from my usual personality. I could not find the reason behind my change in personality or in outlook. But then I was all time busy finding an answer to my question.

One night I was sleeping, and I got the answer to my question in a dream. I woke up and thanked God for everything he has given me in life as I was not aware of what I got after having my love in my life as my beauty lies in his eyes.

Then again, one day I think, is it he loves me because I am beautiful or because he loves me so I am beautiful? Then I looked into his eyes and realized that every girl is beautiful if she has a beholder to praise, her beauty is worthless without a beholder.

Beauty is God’s gift but still to complete it need an admirer.

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She was my Angel Friend

Bhawana - 31 August 2021

In this blog, I’m writing about a lady, whom I call my Angel friend. She was in her eighties, and her skin had wrinkles despite that, her blushing eyes know the way to make people in love. In her old age, she is still exquisite and attractive. I know her for few years. We used to meet occasionally in a shopping mall near to my residence. We became good friends. I still remember the day when we met the first time. She was in the same shopping mall searching for something. I liked her at first sight, tried to talk to her that day. ’ I think you are searching for something. May I help you?’ She turned to me with a smile on her face and since then we became friends. We shared coffee; we had a good chat that day.

She was living on a different side of a shopping mall. That day, we waved goodbye and went our ways. During our conversation, one thing shocked my soul and mind. On my asking what she did whole life like a profession, firstly she was lost in her thoughts, closed eyes and then with all pain in her voice, she said, ’I was escort’. It stunned me to hear her words. I said nothing. On my way home, I was thinking of her only. How such a beautiful and calm lady can say this. Is she really had such a past? My mind did not believe her words.

My Angel
My Angel

After that day, we met many times, but I never dared to ask again. I always liked her beautiful eyes and graceful smile.

A few days back, when I went to church, I saw her sitting in one corner praying with closed eyes. I saw her from quite a distance. She was looking like some angel. On the back wall of the church, I also saw a picture of Mother Mary. Felt so much resemblance.

I wanted to ask her that why she said she was an escort but I was having neither the courage nor words to ask. I was sitting and praying and suddenly someone asked me,’ where you are lost, my child’. It was the father of the church. I shared my doubt with him. He knew her well and what he told me really stunned me. He told me she is a fantastic lady. She was not an escort. What she told me was not true.

She loved someone

In fact, in her youth, she was in love with someone. She loved a man in his hard times, gave him a better lifestyle, supported him and done all she could to love him, but that man had different intentions in his mind. He was with her not for love or care, but his reason was selfishness. She was a beautiful and innocent girl. She couldn’t understand the materialistic selfish reasons of his man to be with her. Time passed and by one day he left her all alone in the world with debt on her shoulders and tears in her eyes and sickness and pain in her heart. She cried alone for so many days.

She started inhaling drugs and alcohol but nothing was helping her she was still in his memories and was in the hope of him coming back.

I saw her standing and waiting at the door for him. One day she heard him saying, ’I befooled you’. She started crying louder and then when the next morning she woke up she said to herself it was not you who befooled me; it was me who got befooled; I knew at every step that u don’t love me; you have reasons to be with me but I thought u will change because I love you so much.

Having frustration and thinking that she slept with a man who was using her as an escort for the tenure of time for his selfish motives, she engraved deep a thought in her mind that she is an escort. With this thought, she lived her whole life.

Hearing all this, my eyes were full of tears, completely voiceless. I turned back, but nobody was there. I came back home with a heavy heart. Never met her again.

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The Love Tale of Prince Edward and Mrs Simpson

Jaspal Singh - 25 August 2021

Updated on September 7th, 2024

History is not only a subject full of kings, queens, fights, conspiracies, and power-capturing strategies. It also has many other things than dry tales and discussions. Love, emotions, and sacrifices also remained an important part of pages of the past. All kings are not behind power politics; few set their priorities in their own way. They left the crown for their love, their passion as well other values. The love tale of Prince Edward and Mrs. Wallis Simpson is a perfect example to say that love and passions can really drive the lives of a few, and those few make life really beautiful and more liveable and meaningful.

When Prince Edward fell in love with Wallis, she was not only already married but also divorced. Prince himself was also involved with other women. Mrs Simpson entered his life, but being American was a big hurdle in their love story, as Americans were not highly regarded in British. Their relation grew up into a deep friendship, and then it crossed all limits to be a ‘perfect love story. Nobody in the Royal family liked this relation. The passion in relation was so intense that it sparked a constitutional crisis. Despite all this, King was happy to give up the British throne, and ultimately, Edward VIII renounced his throne in December 1936 with his brother Albert crowned King George VI.

Following his abdication, the pair married a year on, and remained in union for 35 years until Edward’s death in May 1972.

The first meeting of Edward & Mrs. Simpson

King Edward was a good-looking person with blonde hair and blue eyes, a boyish look on his face. He maintained this look throughout his life. Yet Prince Edward preferred married women. Because of his appealing personality, many women got attracted. Before meeting Mrs Wallis Simpson, he was having relations with different ladies. One of those was lady Furness, who hosted a party on 10 January 1931, where she invited both Prince Edward and Mrs Simpson and her husband, Ernest Simpson. It was the first meeting between Prince and Mrs Simpson. No doubt it did not leave any powerful impression on Prince. Thereafter, they met on different occasions during the next few months. Very truly, it was not love at first sight for either of them. Edward continued his affair with Lady Furness, although he and Wallis met at various house parties.

Prince Edward in Style
Prince Edward’s style

Prince Edward’s other relations:

In 1918, Prince Edward met Mrs. Winifred (“Freda”), Dudley Ward. Although they were about the same age (23), Freda had been married for five years when they met. For 16 years, Freda was Prince Edward’s mistress.

Mrs. Simpson also remained a frequent guest to Prince Edward for the next two years. They came close to each other when Lady Furness was on a trip to the USA in January 1934. Thereafter other ladies, including Lady Furness, were cut out of Prince’s life. Freda Dudley Ward was also one who remained close to Prince until 1934 and the beginning of Prince’s relationship with Wallis Simpson. In January 1934, Thelma Furness made a trip to the United States, entrusting Prince Edward to the care of Wallis in her absence. Upon Thelma’s return, she found she was no longer welcome in Prince Edward’s life—even her phone calls were refused.

Mrs. Simpson & her earlier life

Simpson was born on June 19, 1896, in Pennsylvania but grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She was a socialite who had been married twice when she met Edward at a party. Mrs Simpson was not only exquisite, but she also had a sense of style and posed in her personality. She was 35 when she met Edward at a house party hosted by Lady Thelma Furness.

When she grew into a young woman, she married Lieutenant Earl Winfield, a pilot for US Navy, in 1916. This marriage lasted until their divorce in December 1927. After a few months of divorce, she got married to Ernest Simpson in July 1928.

As said earlier, it was in the year 1934 that Prince and Wallis became closer. There was a reference to when Prince invited both Mrs. Wallis Simpson and her husband to cruise, but Ernest Simpson could not accompany his wife because of his business involvement. On this cruise, they crossed the limits of friendship and fell completely in love with each other.

The testing phase of their relationship

The relationship between Prince and Mrs. Simpson entered a testing phase when King George V, father of the prince, died in January 1936, and thereafter Prince became King Edward VIII. The New King was occupied with big state affairs responsibilities, but no one in the King’s circles welcomed his infatuation with Mrs. Simpson. Then-Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin believed people would not accept divorced women with two living ex-husbands as queen. In fact, this relation rocked Britain’s most prominent institutions – Parliament, the monarchy, and the Church of England – to their cores. But Edward was excited and wanted to make her Queen, but he couldn’t.

Edward and Mrs Simpson in 1941
The Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Style Setters: at resorts in Miami, 1941.

King left his throne to be with the women he loved

The Church of England did not allow divorced people to remarry if their former spouses were still alive, and as King Edward was the head of the Church, so it was believed that he could not remain king and marry Wallis Simpson. Ultimately, he was left with simple options, either leave Simpson or abdicate Thorn. As he was very much committed to being with his love, King Edward finally left the thorn in December 1936.

In his famous abdication speech, he said, “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility, and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.” His brother, Prince Albert, who became George VI, acceded to the throne. Edward went off to marry Wallis in France and was rarely seen in Britain again.

It was certainly a significant decision where he proved that love is more important than anything in life. More interestingly, Edward abdicated the throne for her, even though she was still married to her second husband. Later on, she sued for divorce, and it was granted. Edward and Wallis got married on June 3, 1937, in a minimal ceremony.

Voluntary exile in Paris

After the abdication and marriage of Edward to Wallis, the Royal family shunned the couple. Their ‘wedding day was also the first day of the rest of their lives in permanent exile. Once Edward abdicated, he lost his title as King and was referred to immediately after Prince Edward. Given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the couple lived in voluntary exile in Paris, where they were known for their elegant dinner parties. They continue to attend the galas, fashion shows, and dinner parties that had always been her natural environment. Publically, they were always looking elegant and well-dressed. Edward loved the 12,000-acre secluded estate near Tallahassee, where he was preoccupied with outdoor pursuits including hunting, picnics, and horse riding, which he enjoyed immensely. They were also sent to the Bahamas as Governor for a short period.

Edward and Mrs Simpson
Edward & Mrs. Simpson in 1942

Edward passed away in May 1972, as his health fell down because of heavy smoking, Mrs. Wallis lived fourteen more years till her death in April 1986, at 89, when she was buried beside her Duke of Windsor. The couple had no child. They could never return to Britain unless Edward came to attend the funeral of King George VI in 1952 and again for his mother, Queen Mary, in 1953. Wallis didn’t accompany him to either funeral, but she could return for Edward’s funeral in 1972. With many difficulties, their love tale is really touching.

The Duchess and Duke of Windsor in 1946
The Duchess and Duke of Windsor, 1946

Royal Family relation in later life

Although their marriage forced Edward into exile (which explained the move across the English Channel to Paris), Wallis was granted some acceptance from the royal family as the years went on. When Edward died, his funeral was held in England, and she stayed at Buckingham Palace for the event, according to Anne Sebba, the author of the book, That Women: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor

Wallis and Edward in 1956

Eyes for each other: Wallis and Edward in more tender moments in Florida, 1956

Love ultimately proved

Love certainly is more than just going on dates holding hands and kissing. It’s about accepting each other’s weirdness and flaws. Sometimes people also say ‘Love is being stupid together. This love tale ended years ago it has many aspects to remember for ages to come. Their tale remained a hot topic for the entire world for the last more than a half-century. Few say it is the greatest love story, while others see it as the ultimate royal scandal. Still, their romance is certainly mired in controversy because, to be with the woman he loved, Britain’s king paid a truly extraordinary price – he gave up the British throne for his love. 

A king left his throne to be with the woman he loved. Duke of Windsor has become a romanticized figure over his devotion to American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Few believe that this was the love story of the century, but for others, it was a scandal that threatened to weaken the monarchy. 

Read another interesting article The Tragic Tale of a Dream Lady, Bollywood actress Vimmi

References

  • King Edward VIII Abdicated for Love by Jennifer Rosenberg at About.com.
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII
  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2699035.stm
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
  • http://www.people.com
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