Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Reading Day (27).

Got up at 5, sent all the messages and turned off to sleep yet again to get up at a 5' to 7. Went through the chores and was ready by 9. Off to the Foundation soon after.

Worked on my laptop and wrote up my diary.

Met Anup Jacob, the minister for civil supplies. He was very friendly. Gave our letter seeking the order for supplyco bags.

Lunch and a short stint at siesta.

Off to the YMCA hall (the old British Council Library) for the session on "Vaayana and Artificial Intelligence" which was inaugurated by Ms Bindu Krishna, the minister for women and child development. The session began on the dot at 3 PM and lasted an hour. 

Off to Poojappura for the sarga saayaahnam. Today's was by the "ehuthukoottam" which was nice. 'Vaayana ezhuthu anubhavangal' was the topic. Went off well with a good crowd of over 40.

Secured by a quarter past 7 and hit the sack comparatively early. 

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Reading Day (26).

Got up at a half past 4 and knowing that if I'd turn off to sleep again, I'd get up late and upset my schedule. So, I'd washed up and recited my prayers, sent the messages on completion and turned off to sleep yet again to get up at 7. Went through the chores and was ready by 9; a quick breakfast and we were off to the Foundation.

Worked on my laptop till about 12 and had a short nap at the top.

Lunch at a quarter past 2.

Today,  Lekha was off to Kochi to meet Dr Padmanabha Shenoy.

Off to the Kerala Armed Women's Police Battalion for the Vaayana Sadassu. DCP Anjali Bhavana was its commandant who made us wait for a while. The program was good and she has promised to spread reading awareness, among the poor, in the coastal belt as part of their outreach program!

Left the battalion by 5 and I reached the "Sarga saayaahnam" venue by 6; Mr MR Karthikeyan had already delivered the lecture and I'd asked Ashokan Nadalayil to oversee the conclusion. I concluded the session after that!

Reached home by a 5' to 8, had my dinner and had hit the sack earlier than usual.    

Monday, July 13, 2026

Reading Day (25).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again only to get up at about a 35' past 6. Went about my chores, recited my prayers, washed my clothes and was ready by 9.

Off to the Foundation. Worked on my laptop till about lunch time.

Lunch at a quarter past 2. Rice made by Vasantha along with the dishes sent by Ammayi.

Siesta at the top.

Went off to Poojappura at a half past 4, today's talk was by Dr Vijin Raj and Vishakh RJ on "Vidyayum vaidyavum". Interesting lectures and there was a wide participation from the audience, post talk!

Secured by a half past 7!

Dinner comparatively early.   

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Reading Day (24).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again only to get up at a half past 7. The chores, washing of clothes, reciting of prayers, bath and had breakfast around a half past 9.

Worked on my lap top.

Slept for a while till lunchtime.

To Amritha Hotel for lunch. Nice ambience, nice food and good service by BenShine.

Returned home and left for Poojappura. "Krishiyum saadhyathakalum" by Mr PI Ashok was the topic, maximum interaction by the audience today.

A quiet evening thereafter.  

Saturday, July 11, 2026

Reading Day (23).

Got up thrice to go to the rest room, turned back and went off to sleep yet again. Sent all the messages at 5
and then got up at a 20' to 7. Went through the chores, there's power interruption and therefore, had bath in cold water! Left for the Foundation at a half past 8.

After collecting the necessary material, went off to the Chinmaya Mission School at Kunnumpuram behind Ayurveda College. The Quiz Competition had 55 students but the painting, drawing, recitation and Thesaurus-based-'padamalsaram' were over subscribed! And we'd to get additional drawing papers!!

The overall performance in the quiz comp was disheartening! The first was Akhil with 34 followed by Sunil with 27 points - they form the Thiruvananthapuram District Quiz Competition team at the state level competition next Saturday, again at the same venue! As the quiz master, I wasn't happy.

Had lunch by 3 - veg fried rice and paneer masala gravy - followed by medicines. Tried to catch up with my 40 winks but to no avail!

Off to Poojappura by a half past 4, Today's topic was "Bhaasha pathanam" by Dr SK Sreekumar. The audience added up to about 26 people but his talk was good and consequently, an interesting discussion from the gathering ensued.

Returned home by 8. An early dinner and hit the sack comparatively early!    

Friday, July 10, 2026

Reading Day (22).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at 7, went through the chores and was ready by 9. Rajanna was our chauffeur.

Worked on my laptop.

Went to the Vanchi Poor Fund School for the Vaayana Maasaacharanam activity. About thirty children drawn from classes 1 to 5 were the audience; we told them stories, made them read out passages from a few books, gave them Frooti and presented them with books for their library. There were a few group photographs taken on the occasion.

Vasantha's lunch was nice followed by siesta at the top floor.

Off to Poojappura but not before dropping Uma at Printech to collect our banner for tomorrow's Thiruvananthapuram District Quiz Competition at the Chinmaya Mission School at Kunnumpuram near Statue junction.

The Sarga saayaahnam saw Ranjith Nair speak on "Maadhyama channelukal : nallatho cheethayo?" which saw an enthusiastic participation.

Secured a trifle later than usual! 

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Reading Day (21).

Got up around 2, washed up and recited the first half of my prayers; turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a quarter to 7, the chores and was ready by 9. Anish cleared up the wash basin block in the morning. I, then, gave him tasks to get me things that I wanted.

Went straight to the Cantonment House and met up with Ms Bindu Krishna, the minister. She warmly welcomed us and has agreed to be the chief guest, at our program at the YMCA, on the 15th at 1500 hrs.

Worked on the laptop till lunchtime.

To V Muralidharan's office around a half past 1, wasted time till about a 10' to 4 and it turned out to be a futile exercise!

Dropped at the Poojappura circle for the Sarga saayaahnam which was by the 'ezhuthukoottam'. The subject was "Saahitya rangathe copyiyadikal". Nice and interactive!

Bought me a new pair of bathroom slippers and had an extra hole drilled into my belt. 

A comparatively early evening!