Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Halfway through Palakkad district.

Had got up around 4, recited my prayers and drifted back to sleep and got up around a half past 6. The morning cuppa was sadly missing as the hotel was yet to have its restaurant operational. It had better get its services streamlined because I'm sure it will not get many guests with the present facilities! Even the hot water system is yet to be put in place but the beauty about the place was that it was new, looked good and we'd a good sleep.

Maman didn't get his bucket of hot water and therefore, skipped his bath. It was in keeping with the requirement dictated by his cough and cold! Chambu skipped his, saying that he'd a good bath last evening!! Was in bad shape as my throat has gone for a six, yet again. Is it a relapse or because of a lapse on my part, I wonder. The heat outside and the controlled air within the vehicles that we use, along with an abundance of dust in the atmosphere, could be the inimical factors for a good respiratory system.

We left Thrissur after a half past 8 and the traffic was just right for our convoy to move without any halts enroute. Reached Vadakkancherry, our first point of reception by about a half past 9 and we're quickly provided with a sumptuous breakfast of idiyappams and vegetable stew. The reception was at a strategic corner of the private bus stand and was a fairly well attended programme - short and sweet - as there were high school children who were keen to interact and for going around the mobile exhibitions!

The panchayats with which we'd our trysts with, today were:-

  (a) Vadakkancherry.
  (b) Nenmaara.
  (c) Alathur.
  (d) Pallassena and
  (e) Kuzhalmannam.

The crowds in each of the panchayats were good, interactive and eager to go around the vehicles. The local MLA was in attendance at Alathur and he'd waited for us to arrive. Enjoyed the interactions though I was not feeling good because of the bad throat.

Remembered our numerous trips to Santhan Kochachhan's ancestral home, Poozhikkunnathu House at Koduvayur, as we passed through the adjacent areas. At Kuzhalmannam, Excise Inspector Suresh Kumar gave a thought provoking lecture about the trend of youngsters' indulgence in drugs!

Ramanand sir, our co-ordinator in the district, was his usual efficient self, chauffeuring us from one point to the other in his spanking new SUV. Our night halt was at the government guest house which was nice and the initial idea of going to Rema's house was dropped because of the distances involved and the proximity of the first panchayat tomorrow!

It was a comparatively early evening!


Tailpiece.

1. Indira ma'am from the office joined us for the Palakkad phase. It was great to have her with us.
2. And after a break, I've managed the latest medical condition of my classmate, B Mohanachandran, currently convalescing at the CMC, Vellore.

Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.

"He has not progressed much. He has started taking oral feeds to some extent. It's a combination of oral feed and direct feed to the stomach. Tracheotomy is on. He is medically okay, otherwise. We make him stand for 30', every day, with support. He's beginning to understand as to what's happening around. It's going to be a long journey but we're optimistic!" From Vijayan Nair, Mohanachandran's brother-in-law. 

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