The day had begun at 4 and we left the house by 6. There was a quick detour to the Foundation to collect a few more papers for Maman's impending Delhi trip and we're, finally, off by a half past 6. The drive was nice with Manu behind the wheel. Breakfast was at Thiruvalla and we reached the Kottayam Public Library - the venue of the workshop - before 10. The Science Exploratory was parked at the main parking area and it added to the overall ambiance, attracting curious onlookers/visitors to the library.
Meanwhile, Lekha had left Palakkad by bus and was received at the bus stop in front of the Little Flower college by Preetha around 10 o'clock.
Aniyan was unable to join us as Usha ammayi had to be taken to the hospital because of fever. The programme commenced at a half past 10. Our coordinator had organised about 60 college going children to be trained as 'trainers' for the main workshop - for about 2,000 small time traders of the town - from 15 Jan, for a period of 10 days.
Once the workshop was initiated after the public meeting, we made a dash to Muthachhan's Puthuvayil House to show it to engineer and architect, Ranjith for its renovation and a facelift-of-sorts(The proposal of converting it into a national monument is already with the government but it has its inertia and hence, this interim initiative!). Santha kunjamma was lying wrapped in her bedsheet with fever but by the time we're leaving, she was up and about and back to being her original self and even saw us off at the gate! Gomathi peramma, too, was lying on bed and insisted on each of us to kiss her which I readily obliged. She's 89 and has a loss of memory, but that momentary sense of recognition that passes through her face, on sighting any of us, is palpable.
The secretary of the public library, CG Vasudevan Nair chettan, had also accompanied us and told us as to how Muthachhan's elder brother used to meet up with him during his visits and insist upon him to stay at the Puthuvayil House! He was delighted to meet up with two of his daughters and reminded them of those good, old days.
We, then, returned to the public library and after a quick lunch, resumed the workshop and around a half past 2, Kummanam Rajasekharan had joined us to observe the proceedings. I was dropped at the railway station, soon after and as I was sauntering through the platform I heard someone call out my name, K Rajeev - the name that I was known by, at school, since we'd three Rajeevs in our class! It turned out to be VJ Binu and his wife, Asha who were waiting for their train to Thiruvananthapuram - they'd arrived in town, earlier in the day, to attend a wedding.
And as it was during the onward journey, all trains were running late. The Kerala Express fetched up at a half past 3 and the TTE issued me a berth in the air conditioned 3 tier coach. The journey was comfortable and I reached Thrissur by a quarter past 6 and had disembarked on platform no.2. To my pleasant surprise, the evening passenger to Guruvayur was idling on platform no.3.
Was back at 'The Quarterdeck' by a half past 7 and it was nice to be back.
Tailpiece.
Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Ever since food is being given through the peg, Mohan has maintained a steady course and is stable". From Suresh Laxman.
Meanwhile, Lekha had left Palakkad by bus and was received at the bus stop in front of the Little Flower college by Preetha around 10 o'clock.
Aniyan was unable to join us as Usha ammayi had to be taken to the hospital because of fever. The programme commenced at a half past 10. Our coordinator had organised about 60 college going children to be trained as 'trainers' for the main workshop - for about 2,000 small time traders of the town - from 15 Jan, for a period of 10 days.
Once the workshop was initiated after the public meeting, we made a dash to Muthachhan's Puthuvayil House to show it to engineer and architect, Ranjith for its renovation and a facelift-of-sorts(The proposal of converting it into a national monument is already with the government but it has its inertia and hence, this interim initiative!). Santha kunjamma was lying wrapped in her bedsheet with fever but by the time we're leaving, she was up and about and back to being her original self and even saw us off at the gate! Gomathi peramma, too, was lying on bed and insisted on each of us to kiss her which I readily obliged. She's 89 and has a loss of memory, but that momentary sense of recognition that passes through her face, on sighting any of us, is palpable.
The secretary of the public library, CG Vasudevan Nair chettan, had also accompanied us and told us as to how Muthachhan's elder brother used to meet up with him during his visits and insist upon him to stay at the Puthuvayil House! He was delighted to meet up with two of his daughters and reminded them of those good, old days.
We, then, returned to the public library and after a quick lunch, resumed the workshop and around a half past 2, Kummanam Rajasekharan had joined us to observe the proceedings. I was dropped at the railway station, soon after and as I was sauntering through the platform I heard someone call out my name, K Rajeev - the name that I was known by, at school, since we'd three Rajeevs in our class! It turned out to be VJ Binu and his wife, Asha who were waiting for their train to Thiruvananthapuram - they'd arrived in town, earlier in the day, to attend a wedding.
And as it was during the onward journey, all trains were running late. The Kerala Express fetched up at a half past 3 and the TTE issued me a berth in the air conditioned 3 tier coach. The journey was comfortable and I reached Thrissur by a quarter past 6 and had disembarked on platform no.2. To my pleasant surprise, the evening passenger to Guruvayur was idling on platform no.3.
Was back at 'The Quarterdeck' by a half past 7 and it was nice to be back.
Tailpiece.
Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Ever since food is being given through the peg, Mohan has maintained a steady course and is stable". From Suresh Laxman.
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