My Musings

SAVITHRI - 2015 Part 2 . Read the part 1 here. Part 1 was from 31 October 2015 when Savithri felt pain in her mouth sores. Her doctor at Hosur advised her to come to Chennai for further treatment. Part 1 ended at 15 Dec when she consulted doctors at Billroth hospital at Shenoynagar, and also at Kumaran Hospital, Kilpauk.  Now read further ... On Dec 18th 2015, Friday , Savithri came to KUMARAN Hospital, Kilpauk by 10:00 AM. Ramesh, and Ganesh brought her. The chemo was to have been for 2 to 21/2 hours but shockingly they were told it would last for 20 hours !! Ramesh was advised to take a room and stay for the night. Private special rooms were not available, so he took a Gen ward bed for Savithri. Ordinary saline drips started at 12 noon and continued till 6:15 PM. Vijaya and I left house by 3:45, took the bus 29C, and reached the hospital by 4:45. 13 km from our house. Saline drips went on till 6:15, Savithri was fine. Ganesh was with her. At 6:15 PM, chemo s...

SAVITHRI in Chennai 2015 Part 1. Read the previous experience of 21-04-2008    here Savithri, our sister, phoned on 31 October 2015 (Saturday) and informed us that she is not well. Her earlier mouth-ulcer is giving her pains. I do not know for how many days. I phoned her back on 2 November - the sore is still paining and she is applying some ointment. On 4th November (Wednesday) I phoned her again and she told that the doctor - Dr SHABBIR - told her to come to Chennai for further consultation / treatment. Perhaps a biopsy ? Tuesday, the 10th November was the Deepavali festival and Ramesh went to Hosur. Next day on 11th Nov Savithri left Hosur with Ramesh and Vasanth for Chennai. Biopsy was fixed for 16th November (Monday) at the Kauvery Hospital, TTK Road at 0900 . On 16th, it rained heavily , the roads were flooded. Vijaya and I left house at 09-15 with Arvind in is care. We were dropped at Kauvery Hospital by 9-45. Many tests like ECG, blood, chest X-ray were ...

Vasu has been in the lookout for a suitable alliance for his daughter SRUTI since June-July 2015. An alliance from Madipakkam, Chennai came, the horoscopes matched. Talks also were fruitful and it was agreed that the "girl-seeing ceremony" will be held in Chennai on Wednesday, 28th October 2015. The great hitch was they insisted on a Chennai Marriage (not at Delhi) We were to convince them for a Delhi marriage. Will they agree ..? Vasu, Raji arrived in our house on 28th by 9-30 AM from Hyderabad (where they had attended a marriage). Ramaa and Satyamurthy also came with them. Sruti had come earlier by flight from Delhi. The groom's party - the groom Sri ARAVIND (27), his parents Sri Sundaram and Smt Chandra, his akka - athimber came from Madipakkam by 5 PM. We had arranged snacks with the caterer Srinivasan. Sugavanam also came by 3 PM. After seeing SRUTI they accepted the alliance. Kesari, Bonda, Kichchadi, Sevai were served. I put up strong arguments, discuss...

Shimla   Beginning   Ashok planned the trip to go to Shimla, and he made all the arrangements for the entire trip. He, Neeraja, Vijaya and I started on 18 Sep 2015 for Delhi – Shimla by Rajdhani Express. Reached Delhi on 20 th Sep early morning and spent 24 hours at Srikanth’s house, Dwaraka. Most of the Anna’s family came there to see us. We left Dwaraka on 21 st Sep for Shimla by a taxi. Travelled for 8 hours and reached Shimla by 2 PM.   SHIMLA – An introduction   Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, this was designated as the Summer Capital of the British Raj. After independence , Lahore was given to Pakistan and Shimla became the capital of Punjab and was later the capital of Himachal Pradesh . Its name is derived from the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess .Kali.   Shimla historically contained the 19 hill states. Its elevation (altitude) is about 2205 metres or 7234 feet above sea level, i...

ARUN and his family lived in Shastrinagar, Adyar, on the 3rd floor since last 18 months. We found it difficult to climb the three floors. Gayathri's parents and other relatives also found it difficult to climb. We were looking a for a I floor or Ground floor house for them. During July 2015, Meera mami told us about a house in Shanti Avenue, Radhakrishnan Nagar. On 21 July we two were shown the house. Two bedrooms, a large hall, two bathrooms, kitchen. Good house. Ground floor. Shanti Avenue is a dead-end road, so no traffic. We liked the house and informed Arun. They came and saw the house next day, on 22nd July. They too liked it. Rent is 17K + 1 K as maintenance. After the month of Aadi was over, Arun-Gayathri performed the Paal kaaichi kudiththal function on Friday the 21st August 2015. We two, Krithika, Aditi, and Arjun also went. Vijaya performed it. On 26th Aug Wednesday, they shifted their luggage etc to the new house. From that night, they...

அப்பா ஸ்ராத்தம் 26-08-2015 அப்பாவின் ஸ்ராத்தம் இந்த வருஷம்  ஆகஸ்ட் 26 புதன்கிழமை   நடந்தது. வழக்கம் போல 5 நாட்களுக்கு முன்பே மளிகை சாமான்களை வாங்கிவிட்டோம். மார்த்தாண்டன் கடையிலிருந்து வாங்கினோம். 25-ஆம் தேதி நாங்கள்  திருவான்மியூர் மார்க்கெட்டிலிருந்து காய்கறிகள்  காய்கறிகள, பழங்கள், வாழையிலை வாங்கினோம். அன்று மாலை 4-45க்கு காய்கறிகள் நறுக்க ஆரம்பித்தோம்; 7-30 மணிக்கு முடிந்தது. பாத்திரங்கள் தேய்த்து வைப்பதும் முடிந்தது. மறுநாள் 26-8 -2015 காலை 4 -30க்கு இரண்டு பேரும் எழுந்து, குளித்து விட்டோம்; ஸ்ராத்த சமையலை விஜயாவும் கிருத்திகாவும் ஆரம்பித்தனர். 8-30 முதல் சரோஜா,மங்களம், சுகவனம் வந்தனர்.  10:15 க்கு 2 பிராமணாளும் 11-25 க்கு சாஸ்திரிகளும் வந்தனர். ஸ்ரீ வெங்கடேச சர்மாதான் வாத்யார்.  11:30க்கு ஆரம்பித்த ஸ்ராத்தம் 1-!5 க்கு பிராமணாள் சாப்பிட்டதும் 90% முடிந்தது. சாஸ்திரிகள் நன்றாக பண்ணி வைத்தார்.  சுகவனத்தின் உடல்நலம் சரியாக இல்லாததால் அவன் போய் படுத்துக் கொண்டு விட்டான். விஷ்ணு இலையில் சாப்பிட குமார் வந்தா...

As usual, on 30th July, Thursday, evening 5 PM we two started on a long walk. On our way back, near the Atrium building, I FELL down on the road, flat on my chest. Like doing a namaskaaram.  I was conscious but I could not get up. Cars were stopped and many came to help. Two, three of them lifted me and took me to their car. Vijaya also came in the same car. They dropped me at the house. Good Samaritans, God bless them. Krithika took me to the nearby Swaram hosp for an anti-tetanus injection. Two days later I was back to normal. Rajappa 30-07-2015

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen "A. P. J." Abdul Kalam  (15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Kalam was elected President of India in 2002. After serving a term of five years, he returned to his civilian life of education, writing and public service. On 27 July 2015, Kalam travelled to Shillong to deliver a lecture on "Creating a Livable Planet Earth" at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. At around 6:35 p.m. IST, only five minutes into his lecture, he collapsed. He was rushed to the nearby Bethany Hospital in a critical condition; upon arrival, he lacked a pulse or any other signs of life. Despite being placed in the intensive care u...

This year, 2015, Amma sratham was on 9th July 2015, Thursday, at our house 3, Kalakshetra Avenue, Chennai. We two, Saroja, Savithri, Sugavanam attended. ( Mangalam, Jayaraman did NOT). Krithika, Arun, Subha, Aditya (s/o Uma Sundar) also attended. Sri VENKATESA SARMA was the vathyar (1000 + 500 + 500) Total 4392.00 Rajappa 10-7-2015

A Foodie, an Epicurean, a Gastronome -- all these words describe a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food). There are many groups in Chennai (Foodies groups) who periodically - often - take Group-walks in a particular locality of Chennai famous for its street-food. MYLAPORE is the often-preferred locality for these food walks. For, Mylapore boasts of many eateries. # Though I have not "walked" with any of these groups, I will tell you about a few eateries of Mylapore. In the East Mada street, there is Kalathi Kadai which offers delicious rose-milk (12.00). This shop is 85 years' old but the taste of its rose-milk draws the crowd even today. (Rs. 12.00 a glass). It also serves panneer soda and goli soda.  # Nearby in the same East Mada Street is the legendary Karpagambal Mess. A hotel really, very old, very traditional, and very delicious food. Their idly, vadai, sambar, Adai, Aviyal, Wheat Halwa are popular. # Not connected with the abo...

ARVIND, Krithika, Aditi, and Arjun left Chennai on Saturday, the 9th May by 11-45 AM flight to Singapore. Singapore is 2 1/2 hours ahead of IST and the flight duration is 3 h 50 m. TSG and Mami also went with them. They returned to Chennai on Friday, the 15th May 12 noon. The trip was quite nice and Arjun and Aditi enjoyed. Rajappa 7:05 PM 15-05-2015

We two went to Ooty and Coimbatore from Apr 27th to May 2nd for SATISH marriage with APARNAH SREE. We left by the 07:15 AM Shatabdi express from Chennai. Sowmya also came with us. We took an OLA cab to the station. The train reached CBE by 2-15 PM and we took another OLA cab to வெள்ளைக்கிணறு பிரிவு where Gopalan came and took us in car to his home. After rest etc, we all went for a walk. Sowmya took the dog Buddy for the walk. We slept in Gopalan's house. 28-04-2015 Tuesday : Arun, Gayathri, and Sriram arrived in CBE ? Gopalan's house by 7 AM. After bath and breakfast we all left by bus for Ooty by bus. Reached Ooty at 2 PM, after 3 1/2 hours' travel. Reached the KSTDC hotel. Ashok and Neeraja came to that hotel from Mysore at 3 PM. In the evening we all went to the Botanical Gardens and walked for a long time. Coming out of it by 5:30 PM we had coffee and started searching for the Delhi Group. After a long walk we could locate them and had a talk. Tomorrow Vijaya ...

Arvind left for USA on 18 April 2015 and returned on 02 May 2015. 6:45 PM 4 May 2015

After losing my Lumia 535 earlier on 4th Feb 2015 , I waited for 2 months and then, on 17-04-2015 I purchased my next phone - Microsoft Lumia 640 - from flipkart for Rs 11,999.00. It is also a 5" phone. Corning Gorilla Glass 3. 1.2 GHz Qual Comm Windows 8.1 update Dual SIM, 3G 1 GB Ram 8 GB internal 1280 x 720 291 pp WiFi, EDGE, GPRS 2500 mAh battery 8 MP rear camera 0.9 MP front camera Bright Orange. rajappa 18-04-2015

Our Mumbai - Delhi Visits #1. MUMBAI (Thane, Malad) Vijaya and I left Chennai at 11.55 midday on Thursday, 19th March for Thane by Mumbai Express. We traveled by 3 AC. Traveled the entire day and night and reached Thane the next day (20th March) by 12.45 midday. Vishnu had come to the station to receive us. We drove to Regency Towers and had lunch. Savithri and Vasanth reached by 2 PM. 21-03-2015 At Sudhakar flat. 1st day rites of the Annual. Sithakumbam. At 3 PM we two went to Krishnaraj house and then to Nirupama house where Kamakshi is staying for the day. Kamakshi and Krishnaraj are leaving Mumbai permanently for settling in Bangalore by this April end. 22-03-2015 2nd day rites. Sugavanam came by flight from Chennai. Vijaya cooked. 23-03-2015 VARUSHAPTIKAM of Sundaresan. Vijaya cooked. 24-03-2015 Grekkiam. Went off well. Lunch from caterers. We two left Thane at 5 PM along with Sugavanam whose flight was at 7.30. After dropping him, Sudhakar took us to Malad...

Vasu and Rajalakshmi came to our house from Hyderabad on 3rd Feb 2015. After a visit to temples around Kumbakonam (Navagruga koils) they came to Chennai on 8th Feb. Vasu suggested we go to Kanchipuram; we gladly agreed and we two with them left house at 7AM on Monday the 9th Feb for Kanchipuram. We took Arun's car. First we stopped at Vedal where a museum is opened apart from the huge Shiva statue. After this, we proceeded to Kanchi, and had our breakfast at Sri Rama's Cafe. Then to Sri Kamakshi Amman Koil, Kumarakottam Koil, Sri Ekambareswarar Koil. Then at 12 noon we went to Sri Sankara Mutt. Sri Sankarachariyar was to give darshan by 1PM, so we waited. We had the darshan of Sankarachariyar and then left for Lunch at Sri Rama's Cafe. After lunch we went to Vijaya's friend Kalpana's house at East Raja Veedhi. We rested there for an hour chatting with Mr. Nithyanandam and Mrs. Kalpana. Very sociable persons. Then at 4-15PM we went to Orirukkai where a beauti...

I had a Samsung mobile phone model GT-5330 but when Microsoft announced that they are bringing out a Microsoft phone I waited for its launch and purchased it on 13th December 2014. Microsoft Lumia 535, Rs. 9200.00. A 5" phone. I liked it very much. Unfortunately, on 4th Feb 2015, I LOST it while boarding the train at Secunderabad station. The phone was with me for hardly 50 days !! A true loss. Rajappa 06-2-2015

We two started for Secunderabad by 6-10 PM Charminar Express on Thursday 29th Jan 2015. Went to the station in Arun's car with Gayathri and Sriram. We took puliyodharai and thayir saadam for night. The train reached Secunderabad 3 hours late. Satyamurthy received us and took us home in a taxi. Rama's house is large and good. (Srikanth is the owner). Sridhar and Abhilash had already come. On 31st Jan, our 44th wedding-day , we celebrated it at RC Puram. Today most of the Delhi-relatives arrived by different flights. Rama and family, Vasu and family, Sridhar and family, Usha and family, Bama and Vaitheesh, Ravi (only) came. Ashok came from Bangalore. We presented a lamp, a Stotra book, Kumkum and manjal powder to all the 7 daughters/ daughters-in-law, Sathya, Subha and the 10th to Neeraja.  Santosh had arranged breakfast and a tasty Hyderabadi-Biriyani from Paradise hotel. Excellent. I gave calendars to all of Anna's family. And mint-fresh 10 rs, 20 rs, 50 rs notes fo...