Blog, Blogger, Carrom and Kavin!

First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone for your comments, suggestions, and concern for my emotional well-being in the previous post. It gives me a boost and energy to do something outside my regular activities, which keeps me continually occupied and ensures that I never have a dull moment or allow the dreary weather to cloud my cheery mood. I'm always an upbeat person who tries to grin even when things are unpleasant; even when things are tough, I keep an ear open for tiny notes of birds or other critters tapping around. 

Someone suggested I play Carrom, which was my childhood favorite. 

"Carrom is an Indian tabletop game that is immensely popular in the Indian subcontinent. It is widely played by families, including children, and at social occasions, with varying standards and rules in different places."

Most of our summer vacations were spent playing carrom (along with other games), and when our cousins visited home, we played carrom, but I don't remember touching the striker in the last ten years. I quit playing carrom when my cousins lost interest (because I can't play the game on my own), and I even lost my carrom board in a 2015 torrential downpour.

I have always wanted to play carrom, but my fingers have either stopped cooperating, or I lost the power to hit the striker afterward. My memories of carrom were always refreshing, and I could close my eyes and return to those treasured memories. I also used to stand and play carrom while wearing caliper shoes. 

Me and my cousins playing carrom from 2009.

My carrom board, which was 20 years old when I lost it, has always had a special place in my heart. My late maternal uncle bought us the carrom board in 1994 or 1995, and I took good care of it, even telling my cousins (born after 1995) that this carrom board is like your older brother so they wouldn't damage it. 

Everyone in our families adored our uncle, so you can tell how special he was. He was a philanthropist, not only financially, but his hard work had earned him great value and respect in the eyes of others. So how could I throw away something that remained as a memory of him, and I had only saved a few things that were also stored away in the loft? I could feel his thoughts were settled in the bottom of the memories like sediments underwater that never resurface until something triggered them.

My blog is significant in my life because it allows me to openly share my sadness, joy, and discomfort with life, which I have done for the past 17 years. Nobody supports me as much as you, bloggers, and friends, and your comments meant so much to me. In contrast to other social media today, where people only like and rarely share thoughts, I find your comment communicates with me individually. 

The hurting has never been a new occurrence in my life, and when it overflows, it bursts here in the expression of thoughts, but lately, I have discovered a delight in life. Kavin! 

My nephew Kavin lightens the mood, and I can't think of anything else in his company, and in his embrace, I am lifted to my emotional core since I haven't felt this way in a long time. I couldn't put it into words; when he hugs and kisses me, it's like the bliss of having accomplished something so pure, innocent, and beautiful that it will never be the same again.

It's something I've realized as he's been away from me for a while now; even though his absence was brief since he was visiting his maternal grandma, I feel the void intensely, but when I think of him, it feels unspecified. Though my nephew Jeswanth (my cousin's sister's boy) was the first to give me that emotion after a long time, Kavin, who is only six months younger than him, inspires me more because we live together in a household, and Jeswanth comes and goes from his house. 

Time to Light - Deepavali

The thought of just a day left for Deepavali brings excitement within. Though the weather wasn't that favorable to celebrate Deepavali - the festival of lights and fireworks - as it kept raining for the last few days and a warning from meteorology that there could be rains across the day of Deepavali. The covid has its share already in defusing the light of Deepavali; the supreme court's guidance has gripped the firework sale, but at masses, these don't matter when purchasing things and celebrating the festival. 

I love rain, and it must keep away drought, but never during the festivals, especially Deepavali. 

I hung rice led serial in our living room for Deepavali 

I see a general feeling of excitement of Deepavali is missing among the people; perhaps their lifestyle changes and influence of gadgets has kept their interest away from the festivals and celebrations. I have fond memories of Deepavali, the most anticipated days of our life - from childhood till now - an inexplicable feeling embraces. Since I grow up lighting fireworks, it has become an inseparable thing during Deepavali, and every year, I buy some fireworks as I enjoy the same. 

During childhood days, we begin celebrating Deepavali a month early to the festival. We buy crackers loosely from the nearby petty shop and burst one by one during the weekends. I recollect how joyful the days are then - with our neighborhood friends, we go for cracker hunting on the day of Deepavali, picking up the unburst crackers on the road to burst. Roaming the street is my favorite pass time, then, and it's fun as we keep talking and walking around the streets in our area.

I miss so many things right away, and when I think back, I feel the pleasure and pain equally. Not only that I miss those days, but I also couldn't make up with the contemporary world, even for the smallest desires and right to be human. Though I buy a variety of fireworks, what I could light was only a sparkler. My world is little with endless vision and works to do, but being a dependent, I could not achieve anything without aid from anyone. 

Hope you all have a Happy and Safe Deepavali! 

Moved to follow.it! Subscribe if haven't or new to the blog.

Dear friends, this is a post to inform you that I have shifted to a new email subscription platform "follow.it", following the Google-based Feedburner (an RSS web feed that allows users to receive emails of post updates in blogs and websites), announced the discontinuation of the email subscription service in July 2021.

I have imported the active email subscribers from the former web feed (Feedburner) to follow.it, so I thought to inform you about this shift in the subscription tool to avoid confusion in receiving emails from "follow.it". If I left any of you and if you read this post, please subscribe to the blog again (from the subscribe bar on the right-side column of the blog) and I invite the new followers and visitors to subscribe to the blog for constant updates.

"Follow.it" has many features, including filters to choose from on your interested topics/label and keywords and tags. And it has options to add on feeds for reading all blogs at a place and to receive updates from other news channels as individual emails or one email per day. I find the follow.it was simple, and that was the reason for me to go with their email inviting me to follow.it and I got good responses and guided replays via email to complete the progress of transferring subscribers' emails. 

I hope you continue to give me your support. BTW. I completed 16 years of blogging, and I thank you all for your visits and comments that encouraged me up-to-day and keeps me active in contrast to my immobile lifestyle. It's because of you I was able to come this far, and it was like a dream that I continue to blog, as many dropped out earlier. And blogging is the basis of my many activities online, and many of my friends still are bloggers despite connected through various social media.

Thank you

Covid Continuation and Personal Touch!

Covid hasn't changed its face in India and continues to storm ever stronger. Our state Tamil Nadu is increasing with cases at a range of 1000 per day. Since the assembly election results on Sunday, the yet to form new government has tightened the restrictions to an almost state of lockdown, leaving open the essential shops and limited public transportation. Whatever the government, without people's cooperation, nothing going to work out, but I could see a positive response, or accepting tendency from people, perhaps they continue to see the fierceness of covid 19 on every platform they roam and from their own circle of people. 

Last week one of our family friends died of corona. He's a barber, as well as an artist, who plays the traditional musical instrument Nadaswaram. He has played at all our family festivals, and everyone in our family circle knows him, and he's the only one who had cut my hair from childhood and trim beards once I started to grow. Since the early 90s, he owns a barbershop under the house of our grandpa's, and he succeeds the shop from his father as he becomes old and passed away later. So, until I was able to walk, I cut hair from his shop whenever I visit grandpa's house, and we never paid him, and he used to debit the amount from the rent.

It really saddens all of us, and we couldn't believe he's no more, and before the news become certain, I truly wished it shouldn't be him. I know he's somewhat indifferent wearing the mask, so I stopped calling him lately since the beginning of 2nd wave of covid, and I think now that I made the right decision. We couldn't share our condolences with their family or attend the funeral due to the covid. I wish he rested in peace.

One of my uncles and my mom’s cousin is admitted to hospital for nearly 10 days due to the covid infection, and he has been kept on oxygen. But his condition is far better from the day of admitted, and once his oxygen level becomes stable, he would perhaps be discharged. I have seen the indifference in wearing masks at both the persons I have mentioned above, and their conditions have certain created an impact on others, the importance, and need of wearing the mask.                

I think the people's anticipated price to realize the significance of covid seems so high. The consciousness is something I guess hasn't been obtained well by anyone, including some well-educated to realize what happens around them; forgetfulness is something natural, but how come one forget easily the terrific scenario taking place all over the world. Over a year, shouldn't we have learned to live with the mask? 

The health workers', doctors' lives are oscillating over life or death in preventing and curing the infection, but our roles weren't much greater, and their anticipation wasn't that much. Simple, wear a mask and stand or talk at a distance from each other is enough to improve the situation and quickly get us back to a normal lifestyle. Everyone is stuck in some cage, and liberation is a must to cheer up the body and mind that has been exhausted overseeing the destruction of lives and livelihoods due to covid 19. It's every Indian's responsibility to save our country, to act according to it.  Let's work together.

RGB Monday

Every year the Pongal festival leaves me with some colorful Kolams that I could use for my RGB Monday series, but this year it left me with some beautiful Kolams to shoot from the neighborhood as well as from our home. The following collage of Kolams is from one of my childhood friend Karthik's home, and his wife drew these Kolams on the eve of Pongal.

As soon as his wife completed the Kolam, he Whatsapp me the photos of the Kolam, and what you see in the collage above is what he sent me that night.  And the following photos are of the same shot by my mom in the morning on my behalf.

My friend's house is located right behind our house and narrow by street, doesn't allow the Kolams to last long, or until the evening when I go out shooting Kolam in the wheelchair. Karthik's wife is a talented woman and does well in artworks, and I have seen a few of her's on Facebook and while admiring her work, I appreciate her patience, which I think is mandatory when creating art. I hope you guys like her elegant work in Kolam. 

Upset with Maya

For past two weeks, our pet dog Maya isn’t well and it’s been a week she had ate any and vomits whatever she takes in oral.  In September she had a severe wheezing and cough and was taken for x-ray and blood test revealed fluid in lungs and a bulge heart. Later she turned normal but couldn’t say she recovered fully. The one thing that always trouble us with her is she never take medicine easily and we use to apply tricks to let her pick the medicine or hide tablets in sweets and chocolates but this time we quite failed to do it either ways which perhaps led to a serious effect and kidney fault. We consulted the .vet when she refuses to eat or ate less and then a scan was took regard the signs, which exposed a gel like substance in the gallbladder but the dog refused to take a pill  and the injections also didn’t respond well. So the vet suggested taking her for a complete exam at the government veterinary hospital in Vepery, popular for treating animals. The amount for treatment is also considerably less at the veterinary hospital compared to pvt. clinics.

Maya look so tired sitting on the sofa

Again another round of scanning and blood tests confirms kidney fault in Maya, but this time she quit eating and was forced to put on DRIP as she turned weaker. For about a week she had been taken to the vet hospital for Drips, where medicine is injected as well and a blood test would be taken next week for further treatment. We really worry about her condition and she looks so pity now and had lost much weight and lie down sadly all the time. Last night she was vomiting for every two hours and mom had to wake up all night cleaning and comforting her. Though kidney fault had identified I see the gallbladder should be responsible for preventing her eating or digest the food. But we all hope she recovers and with that hope we bear all the difficulties. Though she’s almost 12 years old we hope for the best.

Dog-tired Maya

Our pet dog Maya isn’t well for last few weeks and she looks exhausted all the time. She restrain herself from regular activities and was not even barking what she regularly do with house maid, guest, my therapist, insects… and started to wheeze after going through a medical check-up at govt. veterinary hospital. She did have wheezing problem already and if she barks intensely she experience cough and pursue wheezing which would take some time to settle or need some medication. We do remember she’s already aged 11 ½ and perhaps this should be age related despite her unchanged attitudes. She was injected medicine and put on drips for some time at the hospital and they took blood test and x-ray to examine her condition but once at home she started to wheeze immensely so she was took to the regular veterinary clinic where an immediate x-ray revealed congested lungs and swelling at a part of the heart. Dr injected her again after seeing the x-ray and next day she was taken to hospital and to get blood test report but gladly nothing alarming was defined instead a slight injury at intestine which caused the infection. She’s doing well and improving much right away and slowly backing to normal and barking her regular way but not that louder or energetic to make feel normal.

Picture shot from our vacation this year at uncle's woodhouse in mountains

Maya was brought up like a kid in our family and for last 11 ½ years she travelled all our lives through many up and downs and seldom departs us at few road trips. So it wasn’t easy to see her suffer, though we understand that we can’t expect her to be like earlier and her energy level and level of activities will strike as she almost lived her life. I hope and wish her further stay with us is at peace and happiness as long her destiny.

Postcards from Twilightman

Receiving greeting card or postcards is a favourite thing from the past and those days we used to exchange greeting cards with cousins, during the festivals and New Year, and I used to collect those as a treasure and keep safe, just like the cousins do at the other end. But I lost many of them in the transfer to different houses and I only hold what I received in last 15 years, where I have sent more than received. After I learned Photoshop I started to create my own postcards using the photos I have taken and put words from my thoughts. Creating those postcards gives me a content feeling then, as I go through my personal thoughts and ideas rather picking up a greeting card from the stores.  But after the run-up in advanced communication through mobiles and internet, people started to show lack of interest and enthusiasm in sending and receiving cards and thus the exchange drops put down the practice.

In last 5 years I received some postcards from blogging friends across the world and Twilightman is someone special and different in approach. He sends me (and others) postcards during his trips he takeover to different countries and I loved receiving his postcards that greeted with hand written letters. A year or so back he sent a postcard from Penang and last month I received a postcard from his London trip – an aerial view across the Thames River – and yesterday it was a card from Taiwan. It was a real surprise for me to receive an postcard in short span from his latest trip and it makes feel happy and I truly enjoy his friendship, care and love and I couldn’t take these cards simple while traveling itself is not. At a time cousins, whom I expected lot taking indifferent routes (and of course I won’t blame them as life is a transformation indeed) received the cards from Twilightman is truly relevant and equally more. Thank you bro 

Taiwan postcard

Skywatch Friday

Before checking the Tea Museum in Munnar, I captured this lovely shot on the pretty sky raised above the mountains of tea. Interestingly this’s the only part of the blue sky I watched during the entire trip of Munnar in Nov 2017! I ever experienced a travel like that where the whole trip went under gloomy, cloudy and rainy atmosphere and treated with multiple waterfalls decorating the mountains like festoons.

I really forget that I have completed 13 years in blogging on June 20th. I’m certain it’s only because of you, friends, support that I continue to blog and your comments were my booster to kept spring here. Thank you all. Blogging is a celebration every day and in the long run that particular day doesn’t mattered anymore and blogging isn’t the same as well when I begin and the experience of blogging taught me a lot to apply in my life and track  changer as well. It’s all because of you and you created a path for me to walk through.

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday

At Rajesh’s (Destination Infinity) wedding party

I know I am not regular at blogging these days and there isn’t a specific reason rather that a mild disturbance with health and mind-set but overall the hot and humid weather keeps me away from any activity and make me feel tired through the dry weather. Though the intense summer month has passed down, the radiation of heat continues to battle our part of the country and the late beginning of southwest monsoon doesn’t seems to help much rather downpour in southern districts. But when things were right on track; the cold began its activity and annoyed for some time until couple of days back make me uncertain could I able to attend the wedding party of my friend and fellow blogger Rajesh of DestinationInfinity.

Glad I felt better on Sunday and I reminded my parents and brother about the get-together two days earlier so that they could prepare for the evening. It wasn’t difficult for us reaching his place and being Sunday there was very less traffic on the road and as I learned he stays at ground floor house I was certain not to miss the chance greeting him in person. I was thinking about getting some gift for the newly wed, but I couldn’t conclude with an idea and my search on internet also didn’t give hand and there isn’t time to place an order in online too. So decided to present a chocolate box, as I thought it would be a safest way since no one would dislike chocolates and it only gives pleasure whoever let it be when the creamy layer melts inside can’t resist relish. Lol

Though he lives at ground floor, unfortunately I couldn’t enter his home due to couple of steps at their doorstep, but it wasn’t a matter to me because I am there to greet and share his happiness while he enters a beautiful phase of his life. Rajesh looked very smart and tucked in shirt and his wife Ramya in traditional attire (or perhaps their wedding suit) was beautiful and smiley. I was comfort with their porch and they treated us with juice as soon we enter and a light meal followed later. I didn’t expect him to arrange for an early dinner (about 6pm) at an unusual time, but we couldn’t say anything when the food container was already at hold. Many talk but very few act according to what they say or think and Rajesh is one of its kind and I know he’s health conscious and try anything which is healthy.

And why I am saying this is because what he organized for the dinner was Vegan food. I know he’s interested in vegan style and have attended events relevant to vegan and what he consumes have also transformed into millets. So no wonder he tied the difference and it also worked well. I really liked the items served in the container but the only thing was I couldn’t eat everything. The curd rice made with peanut milk, instead of dairy, tasted very good and wasn’t much different from the regular. And also the jiggery pongal was sweet enough along the main dish pulao, and it also contains chapatti kurma and couple of side dishes. We have been the first guest at the get-together but we couldn’t stay long to see many of them.

But glad I could meet another blogger friend Sandhya, known by many as Maradhi Manni, before we decide to move. Though I couldn’t talk with her rather greeting either, it was good enough at least happen to see the person behind the blog. Back to Rajesh, he’s one of my long-time friends in blogging and we have met couple of times at my home and I really like his cheerful and smiling attitude. And I am sure it’s going to be double, perhaps, joining with his wife who too has a smiling face and sure to be kind enough going to sustain their happiness and smiles throughout their lives. Wishing both a very happy, bright and beautiful married life! Congrats DI 

A walk back in memory and demise of my friend’s father!

One of my childhood friends father passed away on Friday and he’s not only my friend’s father but a long time neighbor and family friends whose relationship were grown from my grandparents generation. Karthi and Vela are our (me and bro) best childhood friends and our friendship lasted for very long time but only Karthi was in touch with me and even after we shifted our home a decade back we used to enquire every time meeting either. But after shifted back to the neighborhood (close to our native house here) a year back, I happen to meet him often while coming around the neighborhood in the wheelchair by evenings, and I also meet his father while crossing his home where he used to be reading newspaper sitting outside his home. I can’t believe he’s no more! Even few days before his death, he inquired me on walk – what they refer me to be out in wheelchair and he showed no sign of demise. A severe cardiac arrest, all of sudden, ceased his breath.

To describe our relationship, I need to go back to the childhood days and back from school most of our evenings were spent at their home front (which was at our backstreet), playing with our best friends – Karthi and Vela. During those times he used to come back from work, pedalling his bicycle but we continue engage with the play and I showed little or no attention towards him unlike his bike. He was working in a private company and his only mode of commute to work was in bicycle, the traditional one aka utility bicycle. A classmate of my uncle (dad’s brother), he’s a very family man and irrelevant to anything outside his family and showed great care for his children and though economically backward he was more concern about their studies and health. For any ailment he would take them to the ESI (Employees’ State Insurance) hospital, which is a self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers with less income. Placing one in front and back, he used to pedal them to the hospital. The way he fed his son with cough syrup is still vivid in my memories J

His elder son and my friend Vela is a very intelligent student and so bright in studies. I have seen him even correcting his classmates’ exam notes that were given to him by their school teacher and he was such genuine in his assignment showing no favor to anyone even if they are his close friends. Being family friends, his father treated us no different and we even had fun playing at their bed room, jumping here and there and he never scold us anyone. One time, he took me to beach along with his sons in the bicycle; putting his younger one in the baby seat in front; me and Vela shared the rear carrier. We had fun playing at the beach sand and the duo went against the waves to take bath in sea and a scare being, I decided to stay back in shore taking care of their things while they enjoy the waves. Anytime he sees me, he never fails to enquire and also tease me sometime with nothing ill inside. Moreover, I ever seen him serious and an easy going personality really makes me wonder what cause him heart attack. I know a person’s attitude doesn’t expose on his health but ignorance plays an important role and being unaware of the causes and symptoms of heart attack pull us into trouble that leads to nothing but death.

I know he has experienced mild stroke in past that forced him to drop his security job, after the company he worked was shut down or he left the job. The only complaint or disappoint I hold for him was that he stayed away from his mother due to some personal regrets related to their transformation from thatched house to a concrete floor. I have watched through their building home and destruction of the former, but my connectivity with the friends (Karthi and Vela) and visit to their house has diminished slowly as my mobility become restricted, the diversion in lifestyle brought each ends loose and tied somewhere. But shifting back to the native neighborhood makes me feel of reconnecting and creates chances to keep in touch… but I didn’t expect this disconnection from him quite. I really forget to say about his wife, who has been a great support to their family not only by love and affection and caring but also economically she aided by grinding flours to others who can’t do themselves at their  home.  Hope his family and my friends gather strength to bear his lose.  

My first Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini i19195

Mobile phones have become an essential part of the life and Smartphone’s are greater advancement in telecommunication that works versatility. Once we shifted from our native home, cellphone has become our communication tool though telecom. Although I have a mobile phone, the calls I receive or dial is very less, so we haven’t got a number separately for home and my number has been the source of communication and only mom use it frequently.

Actually I don’t need a phone, as my communication has been least, but as you all know Smart phones are used not only for dialling numbers... it’s a small PC (personal computer) comes within our palms. There are countless apps to do versatile jobs and my intention for the smart phone was to connect internet (esp. to use social media and navigation) while on the go and get a personal number which I could use when going out with cousins to leave back the mobile used at home.

I was searching for a Smartphone, to suit my need, for long time and was sure not to go for the brick or tablet size (5 or above inches), because that size could not easily hold by me and also wanted the phone to be less weight. But at this range there are least phones and those less weighted aren’t powerful and enough with storage memory. And also I couldn’t afford more than 15K. By this time I find Samsung galaxy S4 mini which comes within the budget, but not here, in the US.

Glad my friend (who was in US on onsite, then, and who get the PTA) was left with more than a week to return home and even at that short period he agreed to get me the phone and placed an order immediately on Amazon. He didn’t say anything about the phone later and in the activity of importing the Patient Lift I couldn’t enquire him but only later when I visited him, at home, he told on my request that the order has been cancelled at the last moment. But he had arranged to get the phone though his colleague, in March, when he was supposed to return.

Actually I was to get this phone in December when my friend returned. But I got it only in the first week of May when his colleague really turned-up. The S4 Mini is a mid-range model of its flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphone and has a similar design and software features to its high-end counterpart. It has a powerful processor (1.7 GHz Qualcomm snapdragon) with 1.5 GB of Ram and 8 GB of storage memory that expandable up to 64GB.

Like I said above, it’s the weight (S4 Mini i19195 weights just 107gm) and screen size (4.27” Super AMOLED screen) that want me to for it. The phone comes very handy in dimensions operates with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat and it is an international version mobile that includes 4G LTE. The phone has 8-megapixle (mp) rear-facing camera (+HD Video recording) and 2-mp front-facing camera and also has advance features like NFC, Smart Stay, Hands free mode... For the single micro sim card holder, I use the Airtel telecom service and the frequency is very good. 1900 mAh Li-lon battery power is very decent for my limited usage.   

My new abode and stroll in wheels

As you all know I have shifted home to my pretty old area, where I born and brought up till I was 20. It was in 2005 we left our native house in Adyar for the convenience of mine, and to avoid the difficulty of being carried up and down (to the home in 1^st floor) each time while going out, we shifted to three different places in a decade except staying at our own apartment flat for 7 years, others were rented. I never thought I would come back to where I belonged and also haven’t wished as I know it’s not possible to go back unless there is great alteration to my native house.  

We don’t find any difficult with this house, except for few more works related to plumbing has been pending for the owner of the house to be done. We have settled for a comfort stay and the house was spacious than expected to accommodate all our things and well lit and airy throughout the day. The house with front and back entrance facing each other, accompany by two big windows, make feel not choked inside. I think mosquitoes are something impossible to avoid and it seems they are presented no matter where but to feel glad they are growing less day-by-day as summer emerging.

And to say about the street we live in is much quiet and clean, but right now an apartment being built on opposite to this house has been the only disturbance and I know once it completed the tranquil will return. I always wished our native house was in this street esp. for its quietness and neatly presented houses. Housed very close to my native one, I come to see many familiar faces once again more and also got to converse with few after long back and reconnecting with memories. My uncle’s family (father’s bro), who is living in our native house, frequent to support us in all possible ways and my sister (cousin) also visits  me after her college to spent some time in evening. It’s so good to have someone to give company although she’s busy with her mobile most time. lol

Other day I went out in my wheelchair, for the first time on the streets where I wandered, run and played a lot and pedaled the cycle plenty of times. There isn't much change happened in my area in the decade past although I find some new apartments and reconstructions has emerged and roads enhanced to concrete from the tear up to tar. My uncle accompanied me, also led to our native house to say hi to my cousin and aunt who come down in regard receiving me as I could not go to their upstairs home. Like I wished not many noticed me in the area that day, as most are shifted to various places and those being in touch know my condition well but not many would seen me in wheels, but I was glad to meet my childhood friend Karthi on my way.  He used to come and talk to me anywhere he sees me but it’s been long back met him as well.

As I remember he’s my first friend and only through him I know others in my neighborhood and my best part of childhood days were also with him and his brother. Until 1998 before temporarily shifted to my grandmother’s house, as we reconstructed our own, I used to visit him as well as he and I also had a close friendship with his brother – which I don’t know how it broke – and his father also used to be friendly with us. Even though we were back within a year to our newly built home, my difficulty with life has brought a big void between our relationships in reaching or following back. Initially I thought some sales man was standing at the corner of the street, when I saw him that day but moving closer he came with a smile greeting me and also put me in wonder with great transformation in his look that almost resemble his brother.

After shifted here I feel nostalgic at every move out of the home. I remember that it was in front of this house I once fishing in the rainwater drain after some heavy showering. And those days it was the street that often used to be stagnant to rainwater where we come to play in water and I have drenched few times by slipping while playing in water. Ours was a continuous resident area and my native house being situated on the main lane/road; our playgrounds were the backstreets where the house of our friends located. There isn't a nook or corner left where my footsteps patched and I have walked these streets until my legs aches. And it was so good to be back, at least on wheels, to rediscover the area that I hold lot of memories. 

Sunday Photos: Ready for R Day

Yesterday I went to Marina beach, casually, and come across the arrangements for Republic Day (Jan 26). I actually forget about it even I watched news on the rehearsals related to Republic Day parade on TV. I usually used to visit marina beach, a day ahead to the celebration to check what’s happening around. For the last few years I couldn't make up to the marina beach during that time, and it was nice to be there seeing a bit of the display.  Here I share some photo taken last evening:

 An elevated stage erected opposite to Ghandi statue, in Marina beach, as part of Republic Day celebration.

A helicopter displayed near the Marina beach lighthouse as part of Republic Day celebration – car procession.

 

Tanks (above and below)

Zoom on people watching from the top of Marina Beach Lighthouse

PS: I received another lovely handwritten card from our fellow blogger friend Indrani, following Chandra’s greeting. It is so nice to receive cards from friends and it gives a feel that words can’t describe. But it produces a sense that was truly bliss and inspiring to go ahead with a feel of significant. Thank for your support dear Indrani!

Here her beautiful card

New Year Greeting

I received a handwritten season greeting from my friend Chandra (of greencomotion.blogspot) along with his lovely photograph on the foggy ambiance of Chattahoochee River from US.

Following my post on Red Letter Box and my interest towards the same as well receiving letters/mail, Chandra expressed his desire to send me a card for which I felt quite pleased.  Today I received his greeting card thought a postman after long back, that I have no memory, leaving the card on the windowsills. I am glad totally! Thank you my friend

Wishing all my friends here a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Take care and enjoy yearlong :) 

A lighthearted moment with DI

Usually we go to a destination, but will you believe me if I say a destination came in search of me? J But you have to, because, it happened to me. Such incredible will happen only with people like us, who are challenged or differently abled. Hehehe… But one small correction in this term is, the destination is not a place but a person called Destination Infinity! Shortly referred as DI, is the identity of this blogger in blogosphere. 

Usually we invite someone into our house from being inside. But for a change, he invited me with a charming smile sitting inside our home, as I came little late while back on a ride on ECR. Though coming back from the same, with a different destination, he was on time at home. But well knowing about his visit, I decided to make a quick hop on and off on ECR. Glad I didn't miss the opportunity as I assured our meeting and it was a moment I could cherish for very long time.

I wasn’t certain will I meet him in person until that day. But I was quite amazed when I saw his mail that enquires the opportunity of meeting me at home that evening. I would have easily missed this chance if I haven’t login my Gmail on Sunday and went on my way leisure on ECR. I know Rajesh for a long time and came to visit his pages through fellow blogger Rakesh’s blog. Initially I showed interest on his posts on places of interest, but gradually stared to follow his every post as I find it simple yet interesting. Though it a personal blog, his way of writing sounds professional… perhaps because he also make blogging as his profession with another blog.

Apart scrolling back his personal diaries, he is a brilliant writer on short stories and reviewing books and movies. He also lately established himself as a published (self) novelist. The Archers Revenge (his book) is a very interesting crime fiction set in India. He is a wonderful event manager, as he covers many events happening in and around Chennai through his blog. We share a similar passion for blogging, which I think made us quite travel by blogosphere.

I was happy meeting him and it was a lighthearted moment, and I think he also felt the same. Our conversation was almost around blogging, places of interest and traveling. I too learn something about him and the meeting was a great transformation on the perception I got on him. To be frank, I thought he must be someone uncertain talking about, but I saw an amusement guy in him, who giggles and shows great conscious about things. More than happiness it was a feel pride moment meeting you DI! Thank you so much J

The essence doesn’t lack a bit

Wow! I don’t know how to express my happiness and enthusiasm over meeting this very young man at the weekend, who is just 17 - read the age number in reverse. Hahaha… yes, of course 71! But unlike anyone in his age, he is energetic, cheerful and charming who I ever met someone like him until four years back which led to an unforgettable memory that always cherish in mind. I am so glad the moment come alive once again this weekend at home without a bit lack of essence.

Yes, I meet one of my dearest friend, the one and only Andrew. I don’t know people following this blog remind my post (here) about our first meeting at home that drives us to Marina. I’m so delight to say that no one would have led their life so happy and cheerful like him, dedicated to friends flourish with smile and make surrender anyone with his shooting phase using bazooka kind of camera lens. I was dragged toward him actually because of his marvelous photos… but once connected I more liked him for his attitude and spirit that would stimulate anyone surrounded him to content joy.

I would count the time spent with him (even it was less than 45 minutes) were the moment so refreshing, joyful and ever enchanting… forget almost anything bothered me and rejuvenated along with him upon his uplifted spirit. As soon he entered our house, the atmosphere - so dry and unchanged - took a roller costar ride of laughter and amusement and making it as favorable, I conjoined with him enjoying the moment while still not coming out of wonder how delightful he was taking chances to ease everyone.

We introduced through the Flickr and spoke over the phone few times before embraced alive, we continue being in touch with Facebook. His embrace was something healing, quite warmth and bears abundant nourishment for a healthy lifestyle. Even hours later he left, his fragrance of perfume and cheerfulness continue to occupy the ambiance of house, haunting irregularly. He also shared with me some of his fabulous photos he shot while his flight encircled Chennai before landing at airport.  

He had visited our house only once and I also haven’t conveyed the message of shifted home, but he confidently came over to give me surprise and called from a place close to ours for direction. Wow! I just don’t know what to say, I am so glad to have a friend truly devoted to friendship. I love you my friend… if you read it. Cheers :)

At a (family) friend’s place

One mid-summer day in May we visited my dad’s best friend house in Red Hills (no, it isn't really a hill but a place on the outskirt of Chennai), and despite scorching afternoon heat, we had a cool ride in our a/c car along with cousins whose first day visit to our home due to vacation. We took the Chennai bypass road to reach red hills though Porur link road and it was first time for me to take this road after it built some years ago. My dad’s friend built a new home there few years back, but I only got to visit them now and he was very happy about my visit ahead his daughter’s marriage. We spent an hour and some at their home until dawn fall and it was fabulous sight to see sun rays falling beneath the clouds.

They stay very close and right opposite road to the red hill lake - which is one main drinking water resource of Chennai. During my early visit while they rented there, I checked the red hill lake and got amazing view on sunset. But this time due to heat and lack of time I couldn't repeat it, rather we had some other interesting to check with their house and surrounding. They installed a color changing ceiling lamp on their living room and it attracts every one with different hues while changing with remote. The collage above will explain the rest, how wonderful and delightful the exchange of colors.

The house opposite to theirs hold number of Turkeys and they were set freely to wander and climb on wherever they could.  One was standing on a bike and others on compound wall; it was cute to see chicks following the mother turkeys. Interestingly there were this two turkeys doing similar action side by side while feeding on ground, leave at surprise. I also brought home one of their feathers wonderfully formed in combo of black, white, grey and brown. I used to hear from my uncle early about this house, having number of dogs turning the entire area into horror, glad their desire turned towards turkeys which are quiet and colorful. I hope you all liked the photos here.

turkey chick

A turkey feather

Online frustration

Sometime speaking truth turn against us, and I had been through such moment lately and really lost being touch with someone with their decision to block, who maybe could have become an associate in future if continued to share. I don’t feel for the one’s mischance, because maybe there could be another one will fill that gap of mine or hers and for that matter that does not mean I’m going to stop speaking from heart and express the reality, but there are so many to understand and respect the feeling.

There could be some fake profile, maybe created for fun sake or purpose of sharing, concealing their identity but the matter of concern endure me to uphold the secret where I know the person personally. It feels hard to digest the matter if they are possible impossible and when time to meet each other, it feels so guilty to act like nothing and again sign in on the voucher to wither recurrent without discussing the matter.

Many a time I feel narrative but nothing comes to mind when thinking about uncertain situations around me, wherever we go the mind impound to a circumstance where deceitfulness deserves and fake notes get fascinated. I’m not suppose to complaint here, but I share a part of frustration that keep on discouraging me for a while and many a attempts become nothing in their emerging process diverting the main course and intention of others. 

Happy Friendship

Photo from archive, by Jeevan

Friendship is like fire

without flame it lit our heart
and glow steadily.

Dedicating this post to all my friends here :)