Monday, June 29, 2026

Reading Day (11).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned back to sleep yet again. Got up again at a 10' past 6, opened up the house for the day lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the television. Went through the chores and was ready by a 5' to 10.

Lekha and I reached UPS, Thalavoor on the dot at 10. The school took a bit of time to get things ready. It was a thoroughly wet day all through.

The Vaayana vaachaaranam, Vidyaarangam and distribution of 10 Mathrubhoomi newspapers to the school as an everyday affair got going. It was very interesting to interact with the children. An impromptu poem formulation (the tune and the first two lines were put across to them by Sheena miss, from the Vilakkudi education hiatus.

Went across to Raj Nivas for a short recess and returned and weren't they thrilled to see us back. They made me the judge for the drawing and short story competition and I must say that the children were too good! Was glad that Lekha thoroughly enjoyed the program. 

Had lunch and returned by a half past 2 followed by siesta.

The caretaker followed by Soman, my cousin, had dropped by for interaction.

    

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Reading Day (10).

Got up at 5, sent the messages, turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a half past 7 when the whole house was up and agog. Went about my chores preparing for my movement to Thalavoor this evening. 

Reminded Mr. Thampan about his evening's talk with us.

Maman is okay after his tooth extraction though his food intake leaves much to be desired. He had a good night's sleep which means that the pain is under control.

Washed all my soiled clothes, pressed the washed ones and finished my packing for going off to Thalavoor. Updated my blog, browsed my mail.

A quick nap.

Lunch followed by siesta.

Left for Poojappura with Chambu on his scooter.

It started raining soon after we'd reached our destination.

Mr Thampan had come in by a half past 5. The session was nice with a lot of participation from the audience post-talk.

Dropped Mr Thampan at his residence before we set course for Thalavoor. Reached Raj Nivas by a 20' past 9. Lekha had arrived earlier by a half past 5.

A quiet dinner and evening, thereafter.

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Reading Day (9).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a half past 6, when the household was up and agog. 


Breakfast of idlis and chutney.

Set off for the Foundation at 9; dropped off at Sreenethra as my right eye seems to have caught up with an infection causing a red colouration. It ECHS empannelled and things went like clockwork. The environment was good and the staff very helpful, cordial and ever smiling.

Met Dr Shabna who has given me two drops to be administered on the infected eye every 3 hrs and the second, every 4 hrs. Lekha did the honours.

Lunch was bought from outside and after a quick bite, went to SK Hospital for Maman's tooth extraction. Returned after 2 hrs.

Tea and off to Poojappura. Kaaryavattam Sreekantan Nair spoke on "Kavitha saamoohya maattathinu". For the first time in this series, the audience was more than 35! The interaction was good and with Thomas coming in toward the end, it had reached a crescendo!

Thomas dropped me back home as Maman had left early for home and Chambu was not keen to take me on his two-wheeler without a helmet.

An early evening comparatively.  


 

Friday, June 26, 2026

Reading Day (8).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again to get up at a quarter to 7. Went through the chores and was ready by a quarter past 10.

Read a bit, rested quite a while being a holiday.

Lunch was at Padma Cafe at Statue. Good sadya!

Reached the Poojappura traffic circle by a trifle past 5.

Today's talk was by Sudarsan Kaarthikapparambil on "Lahariniranja kaumaaram". Nice interaction by the crowd, though sparse, at 28! I shared my experience too.

Poories and assorted Gujju flavoured dishes from the Saurashtra shop.

A quiet evening thereafter.

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Reading Day (7).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a 20' to 6, the chores, washed two sets of clothes and was ready by 9. A quick bite of breakfast and we were off to the Foundation via the clinic from where the VSSC-empaneled form for Ammayi - for going to the Chaithanya Eye Hospital tomorrow.

Worked on my laptop.

Lunch was ordered from outside - a fish curry, meals for both Maman and me.

Siesta on the first floor.

Off to Poojappura by 5 via the Treasury to hand over our payment order to Bijumon sir to facilitate early encashment. The crowd took time to fetch up and we finally, kicked off Dr Usha Rani's "Bhakthiyum Vibhakthiyum" at a 25' past 6.

Meanwhile the crowd has been observing me, both behind and in front of the scene toward the conduct of the "Sarga saayaahnam". The strength was still hovering around 30, which I ain't happy about! The lecture was excellent followed by a very spirited interactive session.

Said my piece since Usha Rani had insisted upon it. 

 

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Reading Day (6).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a 20' to 7, went through the chores and was ready well in time. We were off to the Foundation by a 5' past 9.

PJ Kurien had signed on the letter for supplementary allocations from the budget for Muthachchan's monument. I, somehow, feel that it's all a drama to throw us off their backs. And the story goes on!

Worked on my lap top.

Lunch and I'd asked Vasantha to go it easy on the quantity of food being given to me every afternoon.

This evening, my going to Poojappura was delayed by 45' as our tempo had come late from the two errands given to it.

Today's topic was "Anyamaakunna Malayalam" by Vilakkudi Rajendran which was great information and interestingly put across and the audience reaction was simply good. Had asked Johnson Roche to do the summing up.

Was a bit late by the last few days' standards! 

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Reading Day (5).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a half past 7, went down to have the morning cuppa and had then gone through the chores. Was ready by 9.

Off to the Foundation. Worked on my laptop.

Off to the All Saints' College, met the college principal, Smt Rasmiye and the Malayalam professor, Udayakala to fix up the district-level reading program to be presided by CP John, the transport minister at 0930 hrs on 03 Jul.

Lunch and a very short siesta.

Off to Poojappura for the Sarga saayaahnam to listen to Venpakal Ganesh sir on "Kalayiloode saahithyathinte valarcha" which was enthralling in its content. 

A trip to the Foundation to pick up Maman's cellphone which he'd forgotten!

A late evening!