A private beach house off ECR

While driving past few private beach by-lanes on ECR, I find this house and the gate (perhaps made of planks or steel) prettier to capture. The house was outstanding from the many others structures through the traditional kind of architecture and exterior that carries red brickwork. The hip or gable tiled roof is another interesting aspect of the house that has arch windows and portico and balcony supported by pillars.

The other sides (above and below) of the same house

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Tamizhuku En Ondrai Azhuthavum

I watched this interesting Tamil movie called Tamizhuku En Ondrai Azhuthavum (Press 1 for Tamil) in Home theatre is also a good entertainer. Released at the beginning of this year, the movie has a unique plot which is based on science connects various angles in a single core device called cell phone. Technology has developed a lot and we live in a science world where lives depended on it, whether it is used for good or bad the film captured it quite well.

The movie begins with a deadly bomb in a call taxi that comes around the Chennai city and an 80 tonne solid rock (vaasthu kal) hangs from a multi-storied building (as the crane struck halfway) with a woman trapped beneath the scrap where the rock suppose to fall anytime. The film goes behind the scenes where a terrorist in intend to disturb the Independence Day celebration, plants a remotely controlled bomb in a call taxi and follows the car for an apt place to blow up.

In the mean time, all the mobile networks in the city fails due to a solar flare and an hyperactive science geek Vasanth tries to activate a part of the mobile network and once the lines are restored the terrorist will activate the bomb which was connected via a cell phone that is waiting for signal. And also Simi, who is struck under the scrap, will be rescued only if the text message she had sent reach his beau Mukil. Though the bomb blast and rock falls down at last, how do they escape becomes the exciting part of the whole.

Nakul as science geek impresses everyone by his technical knowledge and innovations, also creates projects for the engineering students which land him on restoring mobile network. His relation with his mother (Urvashi) is something heeds, and makes a different family perception where science prevails very much. But more than Attakathi Dinesh, in his usual easy going attitude and as a property promoter who falls in love with Bindu Madhavi – a counsellor, whose expressions conveys lot. Sathish as taxi driver has done a decent yet realistic comic role and although he loses his phone he deal was amusing.

I usually don’t write about movies I watch at home theatre, if the movie isn’t worth or interesting to watch. But TEOA (Tamizhuku En Ondrai Azhuthavum) wants me to write as I find the concept being very different and experimental, so that others could watch it if haven’t. Though it is movie not quite scientific or love story – which is a part that doesn’t work well, but still worth watching for its unique subject and sequences that carries logic.

The movie doesn’t have songs except a single track that bend with the story; Thaman’s BGM has worked well and produced a great feeling towards the ending. Cinematography at other hand is also good and captured the cityscape in a beautiful and colorful manner. And to put above all, I admire the direction (by Ramprakash Rayappa) for taking science as main subject and making it realistic and simpler to appreciate by commoner that to in a light-hearted way feels healthy. TEOA – a movie for those enjoy science and humor. 

Multi-storey on ECR

While many part of the country experience (enjoys) monsoon, the Chennai remain hot and humid throughout. Though we passed the hotter summer days in May, the last two weeks have been terrific hot and the heat waves continue to last till nights keeps away the thought of coming out of home. Not only the earth, atmosphere, throat and tongues but also my mind dries up expose to high temperature (38 degree) and I also couldn't think or interested to do anything. But a sudden rain this evening has brought a brief relief and cheer to life. 

Although it continues to rain/drizzle, the environment couldn’t achieve quite refreshing and the warmth continues to survive among the ambiance esp. within our home. It was the same time last year, on June 28; a heavy thunderstorm struck the city where an 11 storey building, which was under construction, went rubble killing 61 people in Moulivakam, near Porur. A site where two 11 storeys were built, with one fell down and another, which was suppose to demolish by authorities since experts believe it’s unfit to become a residential complex and even before it was done a year has completed.

Here is a picture I shot on ECR, a road parallel to IT corridor, multi-stories are new to this part of landscape that stretches close to seashore. I find about 4 to 5 projects coming up on this road, which is emerging as a Nation Highways (NH) from the scenic beach road because of the road widening. Hope there isn’t a repetition of Moulivakam incident anywhere. 

1 2 3

The picture from my archives was shot long back when I was vacationing in Ooty for second time. While nearing Kamaraj Sagar Dam on the outskirts of Ooty, on the Rd to Mysore, the car comes to halt for few seconds following traffic gave the opportunity to click on the monkeys, where each perched to a pole that connects the chain link fence. Actually it was one of the random clicks focused on the monkeys and the three falls into the frame nicely which I checked only at home.

It remind me the philosophy conveyed though the three monkey images/sculpture, where one used to close its eyes, and the other the ears and mouth respectively which reflects the thought not to see, hear and talk unfair. I link this post to Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

A decade completed in blog

The blog has been a part of my life for last 10 years transformed me a lot and changed my perception on almost everything from the time I started blogging. Although I don’t know what blog means when I started, it gave a new meaning to my life and keeps me constantly progressive. I don’t have friends once out of school and it’s the blog that gave me the wonderful opportunity and space for sharing and having friendship with other bloggers. In the long run I have met various (interesting and inspiring) people in blogging, though not all are constant with blogging I am still in touch with many through Facebook and only Ashok (who started at the same time) continues to blog.

Streptosolen Jamesonii 

My attitude towards blog hasn’t been the same throughout, except sharing as an essence forever; but at every phase there’s something to learn about and improve myself expose to various blog contents. In the beginning my blog posts have been mostly about sharing information and social related but only in later years I started to write more about myself and things relevant to same and travelogues on places I visit. The blog also taught me how to appreciate (as we comment) and I gain lot of experience through reading blogs that inspire me to explore my writing skill. There was a time blogging has been great fun (not that it wasn’t fun anymore) and communication between bloggers has been intense as we most of them was closely related by land and language, the exchange of thoughts and discussion has been much.

I also happen to meet many blog friends personally which were all great memories that I could cherish and there were few friends that I was meeting more than once and sometime exchange words in phone. Blogging has been a thing up to now which I can’t imagine stopping and sharing about and it is my daily boost of life that keeps me ahead rather being just. Thank you all for your valuable comments and time took to share. And if not your comments, my blogging life could have ceased long back and it is the thought that I too have people to regard, connect and care about my existence. 10 years had passed but my enthusiasm about blog has been only elevating and there’s a happy feeling at the end of every post (that I was sharing) seems ever turn down. 

P.S. Streptosolen Jamesonii is an evergreen shrub of the Solanaceae family (that I found in Kodaikanal) produces loose clusters of flowers gradually changing from yellow to red as they develop, resulting in an overall appearance resembling orange marmalade. 

A thing that bothers me

How life becomes tragedy in short span? Even though we aren’t affected by things directly certain feeling are impossible to avoid when come to learn about things and thoughts on post effects. We are just four months old to this compound (row house) and wasn’t familiar with the neighbors unlike the pretty old neighborhood, but we come to face them each day and sometime exchange few words as goodwill and on things related to common.  There was this particular house at the rear end of our compound (which house 3 duplex houses) and they are the only owner come resident who don’t communicate with others except the single man of the family. So we don’t know anything much about them and wasn’t in force of learning their relationships but on the assumption we know who the mother and sons are.

There are four little kids in the house but there seems to be no evidence for that unless they all come out and only less than a week before I come to see or know there are four kids rather being two – whom I see every day while going to or from school or cycling in the evening! The two girls, one in 4^th STD and the other in UKG are very quiet and handsome and while passing our house, the little one, make certain not to make any noise that invite our pet dog from barking. The other two kids are twins (a boy and a girl) in age about 2 seem very smarter and adorable when they come around in their tiny cycle and baby walker to incorporate their sisters on their cycle. So far (forever) I had seen only one elder mother and two men in age of 40+, who suppose to be her sons, and the kids belong to them.

Belong to Muslim community it’s obvious for them to prevent practicing with others but still the elderly mother smile and inquire when come to face and the only person who communicate well with others (in their family)  was her elder son. He’s someone sounded very responsible and protective and cooperative. For example he’s the only one in the compound who used to close the gate every time passing in and out of home; apart us whose house being first make sure the gate was closed always to prevent unwanted entering. The other one who is a father of 4 kids seems so affectionate and whenever he turn back home in his bike, the kids surround him and he take them for a round in his bike with easiness however stressful he perhaps come home. But it was sorrowful and heart-wrenching to know the scene will never reappear from the late Monday night! Not that the family had relocated (like they planned to sell their lost house in near future) but lost the vitality that what I could say about.

The family has lost three invaluable lives – the elderly mother and her two sons (which include the father of 4 little kids) to a car accident. It was such terrific and shocking news for all our neighbors. Like I said above we aren’t familiar with them and wasn’t acquaint about their family but being humanitarian it is not easy to console such fatal ending happen to people we see daily. I was watching the kids cycling inside the premises happily just 2 hours before the news arrive, and though we felt very sorry for the demise of the elderly mother and two siblings – who are the only adults of the family apart the kids mother, whom I have seen never before as she don’t head out of their home, our heart goes for the little kids whom perhaps could not understand what happened to their father, uncle and grandma. We truly regret for the future of these kids who destined to grow without their beloved father and the wife without husband.

The mother and her sons were returning after attending a family function in Ramnad and the car drove by one of her sons was crashed with the road block and all died at the spot. The kids and the mother were at the home, accompanied by their uncle (maternal) at that time of incident didn’t conveyed the message to them rather doing it with us, he took them all to their home town without saying anything as he doesn’t know what to do all alone. We was helpless when such a tragedy struck our neighbor, as we don’t know anything about them and how they perhaps react if approached drop us into mourning silent. We haven’t get any message from them so far, since they are the only family with all relative afar we have no idea what’s happening at their end and will they turn back to take charge of the house is a question unanswered. Without the kids the compound seems so empty, although they aren’t noisy kids their presence felt good. I don’t know how to relate this incident but couldn’t stop writing about it which bothered me much. 

Summer Rain

This post has been published by me as a part of Blog-a-Ton 55; the fifty-fifth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with ​Rashmi Kumar, the author of Hooked, Lined and Single and Jyoti Arora, the author of Lemon Girl. .

Monsoon by Yann (Wikimedia Commons)

The summer rain showers
the joy of spring
stimulates the lost sense
of earthen scent.

The heaven comes down
in form of rain
transforms the landscape
into pretty green and clean.

The ambiance becomes cool
being soaked in rain
a pleasure for certain
perhaps quite trouble others.

The rain rejuvenates
while watched through the backyard
recollects the memories of childhood
in the pitter-patter background.

The raindrops splash
refreshment when summer squashes
a transformation in wetness

that quite falls outside the structure. 

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Participation Count: XX. Image Credits: Monsoon by Yann (Wikimedia Commons). Shared with GNU Free Documentation License CC Attribution-Share Alike.

Grandpa at Home

After 10 days of hospitalized mygrandpa (maternal) returned to our home rather going to his. He was going through age related problems and also a patient of Parkinson found very difficult in walking and standing lately and with sore knee and foot on day other he was forced to move to the hospital when his condition becomes worse. He was staying (along with grandma and uncle’s family) in the 1^st floor of their home and shifting to the hospital was very difficult and only with the help of ambulance we were able to do the transfer when he refused to stand.

Grandma and grandpa going through newspapers during a vacation in Valparai

He had a higher blood sugar (levelled nearly 450) when tested at the hospital which seems to be the main cause of unhealed wound and increased knee pain that put him immobile. Once at hospital with medication and a small surgery on the sore heel makes his condition much better and he also shows good improvement on his mobility by doing physiotherapy. Although he regains certain actions and good at pace, he couldn’t obtain the ability to climb steps which prevented him from going back to his home in 1^st floor.

It’s been a long time dream for me staying with my grandparents; we are so glad about their move since we are staying at a ground floor house, accommodating my grandfather is quite easy. But the only thing that bothers us was his health condition; although we feel happy for sharing/staying with them I wished he was good enough to celebrate the moments we were longing for. My grandparents usually refuse to stay with us – perhaps because not to give we trouble anyways – except the moment while travelling or going on vacations.

Our grandparents have done a lot for us and for the comfort of living their sacrifices were immense. I think it’s our right/duty to take care of them when they can’t do things on their own. I know it is a temporary stay for them until their new home (which is under construction right now next to their current house) in ground floor is ready in 2-3 months. But I cherish the moment being with them and sharing things together. After we lost our great grandmother (paternal) 7 years back, they are the only elderly people in our family (who love us unconditionally) whom we really need to protect. 

Fence protection for pine forest

I think one of the sources that keep Kodaikanal always cool is the pine trees. The chillness will embrace if we enter the pine forest or plantations that spread around Kodaikanal and the photos here were shot on the way to Mannavanur - on the outskirt of Kodaikanal.

Pine forest in Kodaikanal is a famous tourist, as well shooting spot for filmmakers, but except that one particular spot, pine trees are scattered throughout the way if you keep travelling beyond the Lake town, either taking the Pillar Rock Rd or Observatory Rd.

In my initial travels to Kodaikanal, pine forests don’t have fences or guards to preserve or prevent these spots being spoiled by tourist throwing away trashes. But glad the forest department has come up with chain link fences, in latter years, at many parts of the pine forest area where there are chances for misusing the environment which will lead to harm the wild animals.

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Nephew Barath and End of Summer Vacation

All the schools in our state (Tamil Nadu) have opened yesterday ending the month long summer vacation, despite the suspicion that it perhaps extended because of high temperature last week. Like 2013 the temperature went extremely up to 108 ºF in the state capital (Chennai) make students and parents suspect this year too the holidays will be extended. But the upper air cyclonic circulation has brought down the climate to moderate and there was mild drizzle in the evening yesterday caused pleasure. 

My close cousin was with me last week and he’s +2 this year and got minimum holidays which he spent a part of it in Thailand and remaining days with us at home. It was somehow entertaining being with him and my nephew Barath also visited me last week and he is starting his schooling this year, goes to LKG. So I can’t expect him to visit me mostly and he’s thriving so well and attended pre-schooling for a month before the holidays began, but what surprise me were his attitude remains same and he sustain the sweetness however vigorous he becomes.

 

Nowadays it is difficult to capture him in photos as his attention goes to camera and he wanted to take rather pose more. So this time I silently shoot him with mobile and used oil painting filter to keep away the grains. 

Being the first school day, after vacation, it mostly used to be half day and there won’t be any classes for the students and what talked more about was where did you went this vacation and what had been done these days.  During my schooling days, the first day used to be keen enough to know which section we are admitted and do our friends settle for the same. But most of the time I miss whom I used to be close with and after 5^th, when I changed the school, there was only one section and I wasn’t much active then to show interest on others.

When I think back the days in schooling only frustrated comes to mind.  For me every day was like walking on the thorns and even the subjects weren’t difficult for me rather going though the task of visiting the school daily. I think the days aren’t different even these days, with the expectation of both parents and student for the extension of holidays, perhaps everyone has a reason to anticipate apart the common cause of hot temperature. Certainly this year has been better/moderate enough despite a week of intense heat, thanks to the upper air cyclonic circulation.  

The Liebster Award – Q&A

Ruth (of Ruth Fashion Diary) choose me for this award which is designed for new and upcoming bloggers who have under 200 followers and it’s such a great way to help the new blogs to grow, discover other blogs as well as welcome them into the blogging community.  I guess she must chosen me for this award seeing the followers list on my blog’s sidebar which shows less than 200 followers make her think I perhaps a new or upcoming blogger rather knowing I’m a decade older to blog. Though I don’t want to disappoint her, I just give a try to answer her questions:

1. How do you keep yourself inspired?

Reading is something keeps me going and the desire to learn something and exploring places (travelling) are the main source of my inspiration, apart observing nature and anything relevant to same.

2. What is the meaning of you blog name?
Jeevan’s World: Everything/anything related to my life/world

3. What is one piece of clothing that you cannot live without?
Anything goes on hiding the body

4. What is your favorite fashion store?
I don’t go for purchasing/shopping anywhere... so no idea about favorite.  

5. What made you want to start a blog?
You won’t believe if I say I don’t know what blog is all about when I started to blog. I just want to create a webpage for myself and thus blog emerged. But later it becomes a vital platform for sharing.

6. Which blogger is your biggest idol?
There are number of bloggers I admire and pointing out one as idol is quite impossible.

7. What's the perfect job for you?
I don’t think anything right now but I would like to become a farmer and promote the traditional farming using cattle and organic fertilizer or manure.

8. What do you first do when you get up in the morning?
Brush my teeth and only then I drink or eat anything. For the last 4-5 years I continue to take an herbal juice called “Able To”, which is a blend of green tea, aloe vera, noni, gooseberries... in the morning after brushing. The day begin with it make feel easy in digestion and excretion and fresh somewhat.

9. What place in the world would you like to visit and why?

I always love places that adjoin mountains, ocean or beaches and being in Chennai, beach is the most favorite/frequent place for not only me. But how come a place where both beaches and mountains exist together? It must be awesome then and one such place is Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. I think this city fascinates from every angle and famous for gorgeous beaches, statue of Christ the Redeemer atop a Mt. and the world’s largest festival called Rio Carnival.

10. How would you describe your style?
Simple and cool

11. How would you describe yourself using one word?
Lighthearted 

Thanks Ruth (for the award) and others for your support

Fence and Kingfisher

During a brief stroll around the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, in the Cubbon Park area of Bangalore, I find this White-Throated  Kingfisher, come perching the fence of the rose garden adorning the front yard of the Memorial Hall.

The rose garden has lot of roses bloomed in diverse species and colors and the presence of the kingfisher turned excited to see my two favorites together – flowers and birds – roses and kingfisher.

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

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.   

Sunday Photos: Pretty Pansies

Pansies are my favourite fancy flowers, as I find them cute and prettier. My first encounter with pansies was at Kodaikanal, during my 2006 visit to the princess of hills. I saw these flowered bloomed at Bryant Park there and I still remember that they were colored in purple and white.

First time seeing them we don’t know the name of the flowers, even seeing the flowers more than couple of time in Ooty Botanical Garden and cottages we stayed in Kodaikanal, I was null about the flower until doing some research on net. People who referred to these flowers then conveyed it to me as monkey flowers, because of the aspect of the flower that resembles the face of monkey.

The couple of macro shots, here, are capture during two different times of visits to Kodaikanal and the Viola Tricolor (a kind of pansy, in the photo above) was captured from a roadside fence around the Kodaikanal Lake. The flowers usually found in partially shade seems to bloom from April to September and it can be in colors of purple, blue, yellow, white... 

Friday Review: Purambokku (Engira Podhuvudamai)

I don’t think films are meant for entertainment alone, and life isn’t entertainment as well, but Purambokku does a bit along with convection of communism. People who want a change in watching from the usual valour and haunting stories; Purambokku will put you upright if you’re interested in social welfare. Revolved around a death penalty, the Tamil film captured the courageous, emotions of three young men who involved in the proceeding.

Balu has been sentenced to death by the court for involved in terrorism and antisocial activities and the assignment (to put him hang) has been given to the Jail Superintendent Macaulay, but who doesn’t have the right or willingness to do, sought-after an hangman and thus finds Yemalingam, who come from the family of hangmanship – whose father and grandfather were hangmen and he himself has done the job as a young boy assisting his father.

Yemalingam, a alcoholic, who works as a railroad switch operator, first denied taking away the task (as he already in distress being fell into the pit of hangmanship) agrees later when Balu’s comrades, who initially intend to kill him, induce him in their plan to escape Balu from the prison. Do comrades succeed in their mission? And how challenging the venture was was set in an interesting manner leading all the way to ending with anticipation and apprehension.

Arya (Balu) in the role of revolutionary has performed well and although he seems quite and fearless at his attitude he maintained the seriousness throughout which is something new for this always cool guy. Karthika Nair as his close associate is perfect choice for the female lead of revolutionaries and her right physique easily achieved the role. Vijay Sethupathi as hangman has conveyed the difficulties and distress though his perspective is highly appreciative.  

Shyam as Macaulay is one character that impressed me lot.  In the role of jail superintendent, he does a job that was animate to the character that ruled out anything humane when it comes to complete his task with great authority – what makes the climax crucial. Apart actors, who overall given fine performance, the technicians behind the screen needs a special mention. The background score (by Srikanth Deva) has been significant and pulsation of Purambokku – meaning unknown person.

The artwork, esp. in the setting of the prison and gallows, was amazing and provides great detailing that haven’t perceived before. And it is a special area (artwork) where the director S.P Jananathan’s movies standout and his earlier one (Iyarkai) has got National Award, where the old lighthouse setting was impressive. Cinematography is another interesting area where I like the light and tone setting that varies from landscapes to diminish prison cells.

There are couple of Kuttu songs and many scenes relevant to prison are pretty older to drag over all apart some incomplete/unclear paths where understanding becomes difficult.  But the second part sustains the thrill and emotions have been well drawn. Although the film is about revolution and capital punishment, the best part I consider was the characters and expression of right emotions where the director has to be appreciated for bringing them out.

Tea gardens near Coonoor

The mist striking the mountain cause an awesome view and feel...

Linking this post/picture for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Sunday Photos: Array of drops

 Shot during a recent showering...

Health update

For last few months I am going though some difficult with my position of sitting as well lying on bed, I experience pain around the lumbar. I visited doctor and he gave me medicine for pain relief but it worked for a short period and later I was back with the difficult and it becomes a part of life these days. Although I feel comfort while on wheelchair and sleeping at night, only shifting from to and fro the position of sitting to lying on bed strains.  I know back pains are obvious for people seated for long time and in my problem too it could be perhaps the reason, as I seated on wheelchair throughout the day and shift to lying position only while going to sleep at night and doing exercise/physiotherapy.

I have been on wheelchair for last 8 years and my body used to it so much and adapted to its own comfort. And also I haven’t changed my wheelchair all these years have put effect on my posture that was slightly recline to left and a rise in hipbone on right. I have started to lie on bed bending my right leg while lying down and wake up by dropping the leg aside the bed so that I was seated without pain around lumbar. I know the position I sit on the wheelchair is not right and it isn't the right wheelchair for me right now as I have grown from the stage I started to use this wheelchair, so no way I could remain in this wheelchair anymore. I am looking forward to purchase a wheelchair that suit me well enough esp. to prevent further changes in aliment.

Meanwhile, I wanted to go for a master health check-up since it’s been two year I went through one; consulting our doctor and on his guidance I took certain tests on Thursday which reports almost normal.  I was going though some uneasiness lately with my upper body and it makes me tense with uncertain what this feeling is about has result in taking echo-cardiogram. It was 5 years back that I took echo test when I was affected by lung infection and echo is recommended to muscular dystrophy patients who experience constant loss of muscles strength and not to forget heart is also a muscular organ and checking its function from time to time will help taking precaution measures.

Glad my heart functions so well and everything related to heart shown normal! But the x-ray (that I took for back pain) report shows small curve in the lumbar region of the spine which seem to be the reason for my back pain. The two impressions found on the x-ray report read “scoliosis with convexity to the left” and “lumbar degenerative spondylitis change”. The scoliosis is a medical term referred to “abnormal lateral curvature of the spine” and it seems like a common cause in muscular dystrophy patents who are bound to wheelchair and improper sitting position. But who affect by this the most/worst is the spinal muscular dystrophy patients whose muscles lose are abundant around the spine.

With this report we are suppose to consult an orthopedist to prevent further curving and as an initial step we’re yet to change my wheelchair that I hope to support my lumbar and rectify the sitting position. The muscular dystrophy is a condition where going back is impossible and preserving what exists is also a struggle but I am glad to be healthier enough than expected. Hope that we revealed the curvature of spine early before it become a serious problem, I am looking forward what doctor’s suppose to say or do I need to wear brace or not like the websites suggest. Let me update you later on. 

Portable Transfer Aid, Take-along Lifts

Four months had passed since I imported a patient hoist/lift from the USA, and only started lately to use it to transfer me from one surface (sitting position) to another. As you all perhaps know that after my fracture in femur in 2013, I lost my ability to stand and transferring from one place to another has become difficult. Initially the transfer between the wheelchair and car (and car to wheelchair) has been the most difficult thing, but these days every transfer has become difficult as parents find it harder to shift me here and there. My mom too has exposed to serious health issues lately and expected to be addressed (by hysterectomy) soon, so I thought it was the right moment to go for an alternate and thus the patient lift.

(my portable transfer aid)

There are hoist manufactures in India, but Indian make are bigger in size and take away large space while being operated as well as in idle, so I was looking for a portable ones which are available only in abroad.  First I inquired about the popular one in the hoist manufacturing, the Milford Peron Lift, both in US and UK through my friends there. It is a lift that can be mounted into a car as well as walls at home, near the cot and toilet, where the transference happens frequently. But the price of person lift cost a lot and falls out of the budget. Actually there isn't a budget quota but knowing my limits I kept away the idea and went to Take-along Lift, after learning its usage, which seems to be simplest, and the compact in size grows a desire and interest to fetch.

I decided to go for it with confident only after getting nod from one of the mobility aid manufacturer in Chennai, who I know for long time and who understand the needs of disabled so well. But moreover it is because of my friend, who was on onsite to USA, boosted my confidence. Because I believed someone being there would be great helpful in communicating with the company and can confidently progress with purchase. I just passed the link of the website to him and he takes care of the entire procedure and updated me with each step forward. He also paid the entire sum, including the shipping, to repay when he returns home. What really caused trouble was the imposed customs duty at the airport, which we didn't expect?

This is the first time we are importing something from abroad, although we aware about the customs duty but what make us carefree was that my friend told, the shipping company (USP) has said to deliver at home. He was further told the hoist will be delivered within a week of payment, so I was looking forward to receive it without going out anywhere. Meanwhile, I received a call from the shipping company agent in Chennai and he asked us to collect the hoist from the airport, via custom house agent (CHA), by producing the document which he had sent through email. Before that he asked us to come over their office and take away the dispatch notification by paying an amount and only showing that at the airport will lead out the hoist.

Initially he hadn't said anything about visiting his office, so we proceeded with a relative, who is working at cargo and who helped us with each step within the customs regulatory and I am sure if he hadn't it would have been great difficult with the proceeding. He had been in touch with airport authorities on the arrival of flight (BA 035) and also arranged for a CHA to clear away the customs proceeding, where we are insist to pay 25% of the entire cost ($2215) of the hoist. Although they reduced 10% on the customs duty later when we produced my medical documents and letter from our family doctor on the purpose of importing the hoist, we spent more than 10% of the amount of duty here and there on the progress including the rupee paid for the releasing order from the shipping company.

It was less than a week progress from the time I received the call from the shipping agent, and the flight hadn't arrived at the time/date he had mentioned in the mail and when we inquire about it, only then he told about the order to get from them.  In the other mail he indicated that only 1 pack of the 4 packs had arrived and our relative also confirmed it, so we waited for a couple of days for the others packs to come. But after a day or two day when we called the agent, in doubt, as I read the packing would be done as a sole carton, he told that it was only 1 pack and the other 3 were marked mistakenly. So no way blaming others, as we have to pay extra charges for the days it had been retained by the customs.  

Image courtesy: takealonglifts

Coming to the Portable TransferAid (PTA), it weights merely 20 kg and could lift individuals weighting up to 136 kg and though it’s a manually operated mechanism, it’s the easiest among the patient lifts I have seen. This lift can be used both at home and transported in a car to use where we needed and it can also be disassembled into two parts of approximately equal weight for easy transport. Unlike other hoist/lift that elevates patient in hanging or swing position, the PTA lifts like seated in chair and comes in two lifting options. The Seat and Split Slings are both used for transferring and the seat sling is positioned underneath the patient, while waking up from bed, with closed bottom, to feel not unease while travelling out of doors and quick transferring. But the split sling is designed to lift patient from their sitting position and is mainly used for toileting as the sling provides access to clothing and under-garments.

Just began to use it slowly, we are supposed to practice it more for easier transferring. The seat sling doesn't need much effort like the split sling which has extract strap to connect for safety feature and the force required to turn crack (to lift patient) is typically less than 5 lbs. So far we have been used it many time for transferring me from wheelchair to car/SUV, but haven’t take it out anywhere. I hope it will be very useful in coming days as my parents feeling tough to transfer me, and the PTA doesn't need much manpower to access and look after others. 

Gate & Lock

Linking this post/picture for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Sit out rail

The house we live has a sit out/portico and what makes it pretty was the railing in wood and iron.

The tenant who stayed here before us has added plank frame/fence to the already existed rail. It also has a wood gate which truly helps us preventing our pet getting out of home and she also enjoys being untied to roam freely inside the home.

 

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences