RANDOM THOUGHTS

                      TAKING CARE OF US  22 nd April is one more Landmark Day for us  It has been 34  years since you embraced us in your fold and made us very much a part of you - Maruthi . I guess the one item closest to a person's heart after your Family is your HOUSE .  The name Maruthi was always a favourite with my parents and it gives me an immense sense of fulfillment for naming our HOME  as Maruthi . The pleasure is even more when I recollect the many many hours that  I spent in the scorching sun and the pouring rain while   overseeing  Maruthi being built brick by brick and the financial and physical hardships that we  have had to face to make that happen . The Grahapravesam on 22nd April 1992 is still fresh in my mind .  This ,  in  a place which was originally a Cricket Ground where I have  played many a match in the Inter Unit and District level Crick...

         FINALLY GOT TO SEE THE SUN  BARRING A GAP OF 2 MONTHS IN MAY AND JUNE OF 2025 , I AM NOW IN CANADA AT REGINA AND TORONTO FOR CLOSE TO TWO YEARS . WINTERS ARE LONG WITH FREEZING COLD AND SNOW . ONE HARDLY GETS TO SEE THE SUN FOR CLOSE TO 5 MONTHS . THE WINTER SET IN RATHER EARLY IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ITSELF IN 2025 AT AJAX IN TORONTO . I AM NOW AT REGINA WHICH HAS STILL HARSHER WINTERS . AFTER ALMOST 7/8 MONTHS , THE TEMPERATURES HAVE STARTED TO MOVE ON TO THE POSITIVE SIDE . SURPRISINGLY IT WAS PLUS 22 DEGREES TODAY AT REGINA . NICE TIME TO USHER IN THE SUN AND DISCARD THE LAYERS OF  WARM CLOTHING , GLOVES , SCARF AND CAP FOR A FEW MONTHS . A  SUNNY DAY IS A VERY MUCH CELEBRATED EVENT AROUND THESE PARTS . I TOO JOIN THIS GANG NOW .

         DRAVIDA UNDHAR  - ONE  BEFORE 23 April I have had a great time while watching both  parts of the iconic movie DHURANDHAR which is set in the suburb of Lyari in Karachi -  Pakistan . The movie has gone on to become the all time highest grossing Box Office hit of film  made in India .  The recent scenario playing out at VADAPALANI ,  a suburb of Chennai in India where assembly elections are due prompts me to bring to the notice of ADITYA DHAR AND YAMI GAUTAM who are the original story tellers of the Movie Dhurandhar that there is an absolute unheard of Goldmine just waiting to be mined here in our own India .  The iconic Lyari Arch with the symbolic Falcon Bird  Atop in the original Dhurandhar can be replaced here with the equally iconic AVM Arch at Vadapalani . Instead of the male Hamza Ali Mazari we have a female here who goes by the name of Prema Captaini . How Chanakya , Singham ( this of course is not thei...

YOU ARE JUST AS OLD AS YOU LIKE TO BELIEVE Age 70 , 75  + or thereabouts is a rather difficult place to be in . Nothing can be more apt than the Tamil " ingeyum illai , angeyum illai "  இங்கேயும் இல்லை , அங்கேயும் இல்லை  "or the Hindi " dhobi kaa kutta ( kutkaa ) naa ghar kaa naa ghat kaa "  धोबी का कुत्ता ना  घर का ना  घाट का somehow seem to sum up the feeling .  The years of toil to make both ends meet and the efforts taken to bring up the family to its present state of comfort would have  started to take its toll on your health and your general well being  . The health related niggles will be conspicuous only by their absence . It is hard for one to realize that unless one is in a very specialized field of excellence , the chances of employment are almost next to Nil  . The fact that the final bell toll which seem closer each passing day , seem to add on  to the misery . There have been occasions when i have had to manage the hou...

       The Best Coffee Shreemati Ever Had              It was already late by the time they got to the Egmore station . The big clock on Platform No 1 showed the time as 3.50 . They were to catch the 20605 Chennai Egmore/Tiruchendur Express on their way to Kumbakonam to spend time with their Daughter as there was a long weekend ahead. The Scheduled Departure time was 16.00 Hours . Shree and Shreemati's departure from their Home at Vadapalani itself had started on a wrong note. She wanted to travel by Cab , while he insisted on using the Metro as it would be a faster mode and cost much less . They soon found their coach and settled in their seats .No sooner had they done this,Shreemati pointed to the Book Stall opposite their window and asked Shree to get her some books to read during their travel . Shree hardly had any option .Only a few minutes remained , he rushed to the stall , bought the books and huffed and puffed his w...

           CALGARY AND TRIP BACK HOME  The 170 kms trip from Drumheller to Calgary was smooth as was the Airbnb accomodation booked . Eateries offering our Indian Food were plenty . Madras Cafe Chain  for South Indian Food whose owner originally hailed from Sivakasi and Paranthewale offering North Indian Food almost next door to our place of stay was indeed a bonus .  The sunny weather outside was a big relief but the warnings of heavy snowing for the next two Days was a dampener as we had planned a visit to Banff which is reportedly one of the most Scenic and beautiful places in Canada .                              CALGARY TOWER  Our plans for Calgary included a visit to the famous Murugan and Karumariamman Temples there  .                  Calgary Murugan Temple            Calgary K...