Retrieving astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

SpaceX rocket lifted off late Saturday that will bring back the two American astronauts stranded at the International Space Station (ISS).

Dragon capsule to return in Feb '25

The Falcon 9 rocket carrying Dragon spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov on board, leaving two seats empty for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The spacecraft will return with all four in Feb 2025. By then, Williams and Wilmore would have logged over eight months in space.

Spacecraft docked with ISS early morning today

* Williams and Wilmore arrived in the ISS in June on the newly developed Boeing Starliner, which           was making its first crewed flight.

* However, the shuttle developed a cascade of thruster troubles and helium leaks and NASA decided it 

   was too risky for the duo to return on it.

* Dragon spacecraft docked with ISS this morning.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready by a 20' past 10.

Washing machinex of bed linen.

Sent my September mail by lunchtime, though a trifle late.

A bountiful South West monsoon.

India has recorded an overall above-normal (107%) south west monsoon rainfall between June and September. The season has kept the Gangetic plain dry and the arid region wet.

Between 01 Jun and 27 Sep, India got 918 mm rainfall compared to the normal seasonal rainfall of 868.8 mm. The IMD counts the south west monsoon period from 01 Jun and 30 Sep.

This year, this period marked record depression and low pressure area events.

However, scientists are confused over the factors that drive bountiful monsoon. "This year the south west monsoon is bountiful despite the absence of the La Nina factor", said a scientist. "We are clueless about the factors that drive above normal rainfall".

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 10.

The maid was at work.

A wet evening with a promise of more rain tomorrow.

BrahMos earmarks Agniveers quota.

In a major initiative, the BrahMos Aerospace has emerged as the first entity across private companies, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) to reserve employment for Agniveers under the Agnipath Scheme.

The corporation management has planned to integrate the Agniveers with Extended Employment Opportunities. Besides regular employment they will also be integrated into outsourcing contracts, providing a wider scope for their reintegration into civilian careers.

BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd (BAPL) will fill up 15% of vacancies in technical roles and 50% in administrative and security positions with Agniveers.

BrahMos is encouraging its more than 200 industry partners to reserve 15% of their workforce for Agniveers in roles tied to BAPL's requirements.

My take

A step in the right direction!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready by 10.

A quiet Saturday.

Pushpaakaran plucked the coconuts in the evening and served us tender coconuts.

Israel, now after Hezbollah.

After successfully smashing the deadly Hamas terror network, Israel is now after the terror outfit, Hezbollah.

US, France and other allies jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to give room for negotiations to de-escalate tensions as the situation in Lebanon is becoming intolerable. But a truce may not materialise anytime soon. Israel has rejected it and vowed to continue fighting till it crushes Hezbollah's ability to harm Israelis. 

PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his troops to "continue the fighting with full force".

Indians told to avoid visiting Lebanon

* The Israeli military said it struck 75 targets in Lebanon yesterday. It said an attack on Beirut killed  

   the head of Hezbollah's drone unit.

* Amid escalating violence, the Indian Embassy in Beirut urged Indians to avoid travelling to Lebanon 

  and advised those present to exercise caution and leave the country as soon as possible.

My take

I like Israel's clinical removal of terror networks. After relentless assaults, it has wiped off the Hamas terror network to zilch. It has now concentrated on the second terror network of Hezbollah and I am sure it won't be long when that terror network will also be sent to oblivion!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by 10.

A quiet Friday.

The CPM workers of Nilambur have been let loose on PV Anwar, MLA for hurling corruption charges on Pinarayi Vijayan.

56.05% turnout in polling.

Phase II polls in J&K is over. The second phase of polling for 26 Assembly seats is over and the Election Commission says that this percentage is gonna go up higher.

While brisk polling took place in five districts, there were no long queues in Srinagar where the poll percentage for eight seats stood at 29.24%. A team of foreign diplomats visited a few polling stations and found it "heartening" to see Kashmiris casting their votes after 10 years.

The US Deputy Chief of Mission Jorgan K Andrews, who was among them had this to say, "It has been excellent and fascinating to see how India organises its elections and how thorough the preparations are. It has been very inspiring".

The turnout was good in three violence-hit districts of the Jammu region :-

   * Reasi (74.14%)

   * Poonch (73.78%)

   * Rajouri (69.84%)

Even Ganderbal (62.63%) and budgam (61.31%) in the Kashmir region did well.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat in Reasi district recorded the highest voter turnout of 79.95%.

In Srinagar, which has remained a hot bed of separatist politics, people came out to vote for the first Assembly polls without any poll boycott or militant threat.

"It is the first time that I am casting a vote. There are no jobs, power bills are very high and youth are falling to drugs. We hope that the elected government will provide some relief to the population", said Javed Ahmed, a resident of Nowhatta area of Srinagar.

Nowhatta was once a stronghold of militants and separatists where stone pelting used to take place every Friday.

My take

What would be the outcome of the elections in J&K? I hope the Congress-NC alliance doesn't come to power because it has promised to bring back Art 370 and has a pro-Pakistan line. 

PM Modi's efforts in bringing back normalcy in J&K should not suffer a setback. The Abdullahs, the Muftis and what have you, must lose, for the good of the union territory.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

Lekha had gone across to the Thampuranpady junction to buy fish for us and the cats.

The maid was at work.

Ramesh had fetched up with his assistant, Abhinand, to set up the garden.

At Kochi (3).

Dateline 25 Sep

Had got up at 5, the chores and we were ready to go to Dr Mallan's dental clinic. Sudhakaran and the car had fetched up in time and we set off at a half past 7. Reached the clinic by a half past 8, had our breakfast and were in time by 9.

The pain that Lekha had on her gums, was because of bacterial action and a procedure by laser was carried out. It took about 45' and we headed back for the Holiday Home.

After releasing the hired car, we'd driven off in our Chevy to the tow. After parking it at Panampilli Nagar, we'd gone across to my cousin, Prabha's office and after spending a while there, we'd lunch and began our return to Guruvayur via Moonnupeedika.

Reached The Quarterdeck, opened up the house and carried out the unpacking, Sorting out soiled clothes for washing/dry washing. 

A quiet evening thereafter! 

Tailpiece.

We were dog tired by the end of it all! Had done all the work that we'd planned to do except for the visit to the INCS as it was closed for the monthly stock taking.

At Kochi (2).

Dateline 24 Sep

Our quarterly medicals

Had got up leisurely, went about our chores and were ready by a half past 8 to be served a colonial breakfast and we'd kicked off by a half past 10 to Shenoy Care and after dropping Lekha there, I'd gone across to my doctor at Panampilli Nagar.

My medical condition is good and we'd a long chat about various things. He looks forward to my monthly mail and is an admirer of my narrations!

After I'd finished my medicals, Had returned to Shenoy Care and we both met Dr Shenoy. Her medicals had also gone fine and the doctor was keen to know about my activities at the Foundation.

We, then, did some personal work. Lekha had to change her bangle at Bhima's, pick up some cosmetics at Goodwill and we also met Tomie to select a grandfather clock replace our grandmother clock.

Captain Muralidhar Nair had hosted dinner for us at the 'High Tide' restaurant at the NOI. It was a great evening though his wife, Radhika couldn't join us because her 94-year-old mom was discharged from hospital earlier in the day!

Hit the sack at our usual time!   

Tailpiece.

Handed over my ceremonial medals for redoing, to Murali.