Sunday, March 29, 2026

Back @ The Quarterdeck.

Our day began at 4, this morning. Went about our chores and we were ready by 6 but our sa'arthi, Monish came about around a quarter to 7. Between the caretaker and me, we'd loaded the Chevy with our luggage and set off soon after.

Our first stop was at the Nagaraja temple at Randalummoodu. After meeting the priest, resumed our journey and had our next halt at the Kottarakkara Maha Ganapathi temple. Had a nice darshan and we pressed on to Letha's place at Mylam from where we collected our breakfast and lunch packs!

We'd breakfast of idlis and chutney in the car with a cuppa tea to wash it down at a wayside tea stall.

The journey was smooth with Monish clipping at an average of 90 kmph and we reached Thrissur by a 20' past 1. The PM electioneering visit was on and therefore, we did face traffic restrictions and diversions. Reached Guruvayur by a quarter to 2.

Unloaded the Chevy, sent Monish back and had our lunch.

Siesta.

The evening chores.

Watched Lekha watering the plants and sat down to watch the television.

A quiet evening!

Saturday, March 28, 2026

A quiet day!

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the television.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked within the house; recited my prayers.

Breakfast was colonial with toasts and eggs.

Frequent power outages were the order of the day.

Washed all the clothes, along with the bed linen.

Worked on my laptop.

Lunch of rice, fish curry and assorted vegetable dishes.

Siesta; got up just in time to collect all the dried clothes from the clothing line outside, from the flash thundershowers that fell.

Saw our serials in bits and pieces thanks to the frequent power outages.

A quiet evening! 

Friday, March 27, 2026

Nearly two months of fuel available.

Next two months also secured : India has 60 days of crude oil and fuel reserves!

* Government assures no supply gap; situation fully secure
* Advance imports in place; refineries operating at full capacity

* Government says no fuel shortage despite global tensions
* India is well prepared for disruptions


Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 4, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the television.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Walked within the house; recited my prayers.

Breakfast of idlis and chhole, followed by bath.

Lunch, watched "Snehakkoottu" followed by siesta.

The evening chores.

Thursday, March 26, 2026

The tests.

By midnight, my stomach was washed down by the Colonprep. Had slept well thereafter. Got up at 5, had washed myself and resumed the second round of washing down my stomach and was ready by a half past 8. Kuttu had come by with breakfast for Rema and Padmakumar.

Kuttu, then, dropped us at KIMS and I was taken into the minor OT for the proceedures. By 11, I was brought out of the minor OT on completion of endoscopy and colonoscopy. I've a problem of thickening blood vessels within the alimentary canal! Was referred to the Haematologist, blood tests were carried out out and the ultra sound scan of my abdomen done. 

Had lunch late, by a half past 3.Soon after, we left Thiruvananthapuram for Thalavoor and reached Raj Nivas by 6.  The care - chauffeured by Sachin - then dropped Padmakumar-Rema at Vetteelazhikam and returned.

Had fruits and watched television serials with Lekha. 

Was dog tired!

Slept at our usual time!

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

At KIMS and onward.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the television.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Bath followed by breakfast; recited my prayers.

Ajub comes in by 9 and set off for Thiruvananthapuram: picked up Padmakumar and Rema from Pidavoor; resumed our journey.

Reached KIMS by 11, met Lynda and commenced pre-anaesthesia checks. Met the anaesthetist, took her advice, samples of my blood were drawn, bought the purgatives and settled down at 205, Ivy Residency. Had the lovely lunch prepared by Rema followed by siesta.

Suma kunjamma and Kuttu had come by to take us to their house. Instead we'd dinner at Imperial Kitchen, nearby. 

A quiet evening thereafter.



  

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

At the Neelamperoor Devi kshetram.

Had got up 1, went through our chores and we were ready by a half past 2 and Monish was at our gate at that time. We kicked off soon after. A massive accident about 4 km north of Kottarakkara; thankfully there were no casualties. As the recovery vessel and the police came into the scene along with the electricity board guys, we resumed our journey.

Reached the ground opposite the Neelamperoor Devi kshetram, at a half past 4 and we stayed put in the car till 5, when Subbalakshmi's Venkatachalapathi hymn started blaring out of the temple's loud speakers. Rang up Saji as he came out to light up the lamp.

Joined in the first puja, "Ashtabhishekam" and saw to its logical conclusion.. Passed on the puja articles for the next serial.

A boisterous breakfast. Aniyan had come by then!

By that time the rest of the PN Panicker-Chempakakutty Amma family was in we were on to the next puja.

Went to the Puthuvayil House, saw Unni and Valsala's mother, aged 87 years.

Returned, had a short snooze.

Joined in for the evening puja. Set up the external oil lamps and lit them too!

The final puja and the dakshina were handed over.

Had dinner and kicked off on our return around a half past 8, after meeting up with Mini.

Reached Raj Nivas by a quarter past 10.

Monday, March 23, 2026

At the Kusappilli temple.

Got up at 5, sent all the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp, switched on the hymns on the television.

Morning cuppa with Lekha.

Recited my prayers while walking inside the house.

Lekha goes to Kottarakkara to fix up everything for her dad's remembrance day tomorrow and to do sundry shopping.

Padmakumar and Rema came home with a lovely lunch by her. But poor Rema is still unwell and she took precautions.

Siesta.

Went off to Kusappilli temple by a quarter past 6.

The evening function with the transport minister, KB Ganesh Kumar went off well.

Kanji, payar and paayasam at the temple.

Dropped Rema-Padmakumar at Pidavoor and returned.

An early night.