Vaayana Dinam (26).

Got up at a half past 2, washed up, recited my prayers, turned off to sleep yet again to get up at a 5' to 5. Sent off all the morning messages. The chores and was ready by a half past 8.

Maman and ammayi had to go to KIMS Hospital for tests. Was dropped at Vellayambalam from where I caught an autorickshaw for the Foundation. Opened up the office and went about working on the laptop, a bit of reading.

Lunch at 2. Maman and ammayi returned around that time. Had lunch at the office.

Went for the "sargasaayaahnam"; today was "kaviyarangu" where 22 poets delivered their poems for us. One of our members had asked the 'Ezhuthukoottam' to refine upon their poetry writing to which their secretary had given a pungent reply. I'd to intervene and asked my guy to pipe down and asked for forgiveness on behalf of the Foundation.

They were quite sad about and apologised to me for the sequence of events and I put them at ease!

Returned home by 8. A quick dinner and hit the sack early. 

Vaayana Dinam (25).

Got up at a half past 2, washed up, recited my prayers, turned off to sleep yet again to get up at a half past 6. The chores and had my breakfast at a half past 9.

Slept through the forenoon and what a waste of a Sunday!?

Lunch at 2.

Siesta.

Off to Poojappura. Meanwhile, Anish had taken Maman to Balachandran's house to offer condolences on his mom's passing away. So, at the traffic circle there wasn't gonna be any mic. Quickly, prioritized my actions for the evening which were :-

    * requested Sudha ma'am to come by an autorickshaw at my expense

    * with the key that she had with her, we'd the chairs retrieved

    * gave order for tea and snacks for 25 people

    * after Anil Kumar had finished his lecture on "kim karaneeyam", the subject was opened up for 

       the audience to discuss

    * before the vote of thanks, I'd spoken about the unfortunate incidents of the previous days and

       brought the crowd - especially the concerned parties - viz. Professor Sankaran Nair sir and Dr 

       Asokan Nadalayil to shaking hands and making up

    * Appukkuttan sir delivered the Vote of Thanks.

    * Meanwhile, Anish had come with our vehicle but the mic and the accompaniments weren't

       deployed!

After picking up sundries enroute, returned home by a half past 7. 

Vaayana Dinam (24).

Got up at a half past 2, washed up, recited my prayers, turned off to sleep yet again to get up at a 5' to 5. Sent messages on the What'sApp. Got up around a half past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 9.

Off to the Foundation and then to the Music Academy. The auditorium was the venue of the PN Panicker Vaayana Maasam Quiz for the Thiruvananthapuram district. Manoj, a member of the office staff, helped me through the difficulties and he was given 500/- at the end of it.

The three supporting teachers, Usha Rani, Manju and Dhanya rehashed the format and I went along with their suggestions. It went off very well though the 1st (Devika Manoj) got 27/50 while the 2nd (Madhav Krishna) got 25/50 and the both of them form Team Thiruvananthapuram for the state-level quiz competition scheduled at the Bharat Bhavan on 18 Jul at 1000 hrs. Distributed the certificates to all participants.

Many of the parents came and congratulated my performance as the Quiz Master!

Lunch was served by Girija at the Foundation. Tried a bit of siesta but to no success.

On the 24th day of the 'Sargasaayaahnam', it was a cultural offering by the Thikkurissi Saamskaarika Vedi which went on till 7 in the evening! Told the audience about my tryst with Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, when I was around 4 yrs!

He was our neighbour behind the TC/804. The bathroom and the toilet were away from the house during those days. We'd a huge copper vessel (Kuttakam) to boil water for bath for the elders. One day, this vessel went missing and the matter was reported to the Thycaud Police Station. After two days, the culprit was nabbed and the vessel was found in a sack near Thikkurissi's compond. I remember Thikkurissi telling Muthachchan and Ammachi that he'd nothing to do with it and they'd a hearty laugh over the matter! 

Maman went back early; returned on Chambu's scooter

A quiet evening thereafter!

Vaayana Dinam (23).

Got up at a half past 2, washed up, recited my prayers, turned off to sleep yet again to get up at a 20' past 6. The chores and was ready by a half past 9!

Set off for the Foundation but had to return as I'd forgotten my cellphone at home.

Had gone to the Music Academy, met the Principal, Mrs Veena and told her about our requirements regarding the use of the auditorium for our district-level quiz competition tomorrow.

Worked on the laptop, pumped out two mail online.

Lunch.

Siesta wasn't forthcoming!

To Poojappura by a 5' past 4. Asokan Nadalayil was the guest speaker. Spoke against what he'd done thus far in a thoroughly gentlemanly fashion and he was given an hour to deliver his lecture which he'd requested for.

The proceedings went off fine.

Returned home by a half past 8, dinner by 9. A comparatively early evening.

 

Back at my post!

Vaayana Dinam (22)

Got up at a 10' to 5, washed up, sent my early morning messages to my select friends. Lit up the puja room lamp, switched on the morning hymns on television and opened up the house, in a restricted manner.

Morning cuppa with Lekha in our dining hall overlooking the compound. Recited my prayers, had breakfast and then, had a leisurely bath. We were ready by a quarter to 10. Kunjumon came with his autorickshaw soon after and we set off from Raj Nivas @ 10.

Lekha bought grocery from More, enroute, I pulled out 5 grand from the ATM and got dropped at the road transport corporation bus stand, Kottarakkara. Boarded a Fast Passenger bound for Thiruvananthapuram on its take off and the driver drove it real fast. Reached the Foundation by a quarter past 1.

Had lunch with Maman and Ammayi with Girija, in attendance!

Tried to catch up on siesta.

To the Poojappura traffic circle for the 22nd episode of "Sarga saayaahnam" . The guest this evening was Associate Professor (Malayalam) Dr C Udayakala and her topic was, "Bhaasha : Saahithyam, samskaaram", which was very interesting!

Secured by 7, back to the Foundation and we returned home.

Pep talk to Chambu over dinner1 

The Bharat bandh!

The combined trade unions, minus the BMS, had called for the Bharat bandh from midnight to midnight. It seems to have been a success (?) from the claims of the trade unions - I'd like to make it clear, it made the lives of the ordinary public miserable and put many into very difficult situations!

Got up at a trifle before 5, pumped out the usual morning messages, switched on the morning hymns, lit up the puja room lamp and opened up the house. These days, opening up of the house anytime of the day can cause havoc as wild boar and monkeys keep crisscrossing around us. The panchayat seems to be too stunned to take any remedial action!

Morning cuppa followed by the usual chores. Recited my prayers.

Breakfast of puri-bhaaji followed by a leisurely bath!

A lovely lunch - the caretaker's wife had sent us her 'jack fruit preparation'. Lekha has been quite active!

Siesta.

A quiet evening. 

Tailpiece.

This evening's "Sargasaayaahnam" was a washout because of the bandh. Bijumon sir has rushed to his hometown, Pala to tend his elder brother who is plugged on to a ventilator, post-stroke - the second within a short span of time. My prayers!

Vaayana Dinam (20).

Got up at a 10' to 5, switched on the music, opened up the house partially since I wasn't gonna be here during the forenoon. It was nice listening to quality hymns from the Kaumudi television channel, as before. Morning cuppa with Lekha in our dining hall and it felt that it was after a long, long time! The chores, reciting the prayers and other things went side by side.

Had breakfast before bath. My shirts were pressed by Shilpa, the caretaker's daughter-in-law.

The autorickshaw had come about in time and I reached the Thalavoor UPS at the appointed hour of 10 AM. Met Shaji member, Sarma sir, the Bahuleyan, the PTA President and of course Saraswati teacher, the current Headmistress. A cup of tea and a hot vada were devoured with relish.

Was pleasantly surprised with the facilities that the school has received from the government. Am listing them just to highlight the thoughtful actions by the government and Sivankutty, the education minister, in particular :-

   * A Sanskrit teacher for a duration of one year. So, the languages being taught are Malayalam, English,

      Hindi and Sanskrit.

   * An English teacher to raise proficiency in spoken English.

   * A smart classroom.

   * A creative classroom where electric bulb making, stitching, food making and agriculture are 

     with appropriate implements and tools.

However, the school's main blocks have been certified unfit for use and no action has been

forthcoming from the government's side, thus far, to build new blocks!

A quiet afternoon; siesta.

Our television set had gone blank in the morning, timely report to Harikrishnan, the local electronics guy had the set made all right by evening so that we could watch our favourite serials unhindered!