From Ramu

1. Gayathri, the recording of Ramya with Mr.Jayaendra - is it for any tamil film!
2. Koushik`s flat at Selaiyur is now ready and we are looking for a good tenant. There are only 4 flats, 2 first floor and one ground floor are already occupied. It is a 850 sft., 2 bed flat at Selaiyur, NEAR Bharath Engineering college. Kindly spread the word among friends.
3. Cell phone for kids in Class 1 to 8: Couple of days back there was a very heavy rain at 3.45 PM when M.Vaishnavi`s school was to close. She has to cross a very big play ground and reach the autorickshaw. If there is a cell phone with kids which can be used only to speak to parents, probably kids can have it. It should have only 2 buttons, one to recievs calls from parents & and the other, if pressed, will connect only to parents.
Ramu

Many wishes to all celebrating their birthday, anniversary this month.
Thank you, J Chittappa.
Ramu C, Vichu & Varshaya only were here last week, to attend Vichu's cousin's son's wedding. They left for Kovaipudur for a day's visit & then are in Puttaparthi now.
Rajiv & Nameeta arrived here this morning, Nameeta with a bad throat & fever. Ramya completed her recording for Jayendra - we still have to wait & watch how the song shapes out for public consumption!
All 5 of us are booked to be in KVP on Saturday 10th. The children fly off on 13th, & I leave on a 5 day yatra on 14th.
Nameeta wished to visit Pondicherry & we may go tomorrow if she gets better.
Gayathri

Greetings

Greetings to Sowmya on her birthday, 7 July. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Sowmya on her birthday today 7 July. Many happy returns of the day. I think she and Vichu are in Chennai now.
2. Best wishes to Ramesh & Aditya who celebrated their birthdays this month. Many happy returns to them.
3. I could not participate in the blog for sometime as the computer was not available.
4. Again the Government has done good for the poor . They were finding it difficult to buy gas cylinder . Now there is no confusion. They have decided not to buy.
Ramu

Greetings

Happy birthday, Ramesh. Many happy returns!

PSC Family

Thanks, Gayathri

Thanks , Gayathri. I have corrected list and the slide show. You must be basking in the company and activity. Say hi to the visitors.

Jayaraman

Ramya arrived here last week & we have been having a very busy schedule :) She had recording for a day & will be called again - we do not know when! So each day when we learn that she will not be called, we catch up with personal work.
Vichu & Varshaya came on Monday. So we had another hectic round of shopping, without wasting even a moment in the unbearable heat. We attended a double function of Ayushya homam (first b'day) cum Kanakabhishekam yesterday. Today & tomorrow V & V are busy attending a wedding. Tomorrow we too have to attend a wedding - each in a different direction, different times. On the whole, our house is like a "Kalyanam-house" now!!

Anuj's B'day is on July 18.

Hare Ram
Gayathri

Greetings

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADITYA. MANY HAPPY RETURNS!

VIMALA AND JAYARAMAN

Greetings

Best wishes to Hari on his birthday28th June. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman,

From Ramu

1. I recently attended a marriage at Tambaram. The nagaswaram there was very good and I have not heard such a music till now. He demonstrated how it is possible to sing a song in different sruthis and different talams. The thavil vidwans also co-operated very well and played in different thalams for the same song. ( hi hi hi.........).
Ramu

Greetings!

Happy birthday, Malvika! Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

Best wishes to Mani - Bhuvana manni and NGS - Lux on their wedding day. Many happy returns of the day.
Ramu Sarada

Greetings

Best wishes to NGS and Lux, and Mani and Buvana on their wedding anniversary today, 22 June and to Padma Sridhar on her birthday. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

Ross sisters - Solid Potato Salad (VHS quality)

G

Marriage

10 commandments of a good marriage

☼ 10 COMMANDMENTS OF MARRIAGE ☼

Commandment 1.
Marriages are made in heaven.
But so again, are thunder and lightning.

Commandment 2.
If you want your spouse to listen and
Pay strict attention to every word you say,
Talk in your sleep.

Commandment 3.
Marriage is grand --
And divorce is at least 100 grand!

Commandment 4.
Married life is very frustrating.
In the first year of marriage,
The man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks
And the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and
The neighbours listen.

Commandment 5.
When a man opens the door of his car
For his wife, you can be sure of one thing:
Either the car is new or the wife is.

Commandment 6.

Marriage is when a man and woman
Become as one; the trouble starts when
They try to decide which one.

Commandment 7.
Before marriage, a man will lie awake
All night thinking about something you
Said. After marriage, he will fall asleep
Before you finish.

Commandment 8.
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful,
Understanding, economical, and a good
Cook. But the law allows only one wife.

Commandment 9.
Every woman wants a man who is handsome,
Understanding, economical and a considerate
Lover, but again, the law allows only
One husband.

Commandment 10.
Man is incomplete until he marries.
After that, he is finished.

Bonus Commandment story.
A long married couple came upon a wishing well.

The wife leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny.

The husband decided to make a wish too.

But he leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned.

The wife was stunned for a moment but then smiled, "It really works!"

KK WA

Best Wishes to Krishnakumar and Kristine on their wedding anniversary.
How are you celebrating it ?

Ramakrishnan.

Happy anniversary!

Best wishes to Krishnakumar and Kristin on their wedding anniversary, 19 June. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

Sarada and I are leaving for Coimbatore by Cheran Express on Thursday 17. (KN and Rukku also are travelling with us). Since there is Sumangali Prarthanai on Friday 18, we have to go straight to Ramki's house. We want to come to Ram Nagar by Saturday 19 noon. We will be busy attending the marriage from Sunday 20 morning till Monday 21 evening. We leave on Monday 21 night.
Even though we would like to stay in Cbe for a couple of days more, and spend more time with everyone, we are not able to plan that way.
Eagerly awaiting to see all.
Ramu

Happy birthday

Best wishes to Saradam, Akila and Siddhartn on their birthday today. Many happy returns!
Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Saradam manni, Akila and Sidharth on their birthday. Many happy returns of the day.
Ramu Sarada

VARSHA BHUVANESWARI - D/O. SREYAS NARAYANUN - SEETHA KALYANAM - PART-3

Nice.

From Ramu

1. Namaskarams to Chandru athimbare & Mythily on their wedding day.Many happy returns of the day.
2. Best wishes to Ramesh - Ujwala & Anand - Neeraja. Many happy returns of the day.
Ramu

Greetings

Today, 3rd June, is the wedding anniversary of Anand and Neeraja as well as Ramesh and Ujwala. We wish them a very happy anniversary and many happy returns.

Vimala and Jayaraman

Greetings!

Sekar and Rajani celebrate their wedding anniversary on June 2. Here's wishing them a great day and many happy returns! Above is a picture taken on the first anniversary of Brindavan Palm Grove (23rd April) when Sekar and Rajani were with us.

Wishes and more

A very happy birthday to Sundar anna and Aishwarya.

After reading sooo much about Vanaprastham, sannyaasam etc, I just can't keep quiet any more. Simplest way, just do what is expected and do not expect anything at all in return. Just try this for one very simple thing. The effect (to the do-er) is amazing. According to me, nothing can give more happiness if we just do and don't expect. Expectations only lead to disappointments. I might sound like a paatti, but this really works. Am not saying I do not expect, I do. But later if I am disappointed, I tell myself "Well, the fault was yours. Why did you expect?"

I look at Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) and am amazed each time. She handles so many things with utmost detachment. Even yesterday Her talk in Amrita TV was to be detached but just do. Things cause us pain only when we are overly attached. Well, there's no age to start practicing being detached. Younger the easier.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Aishwarya. many happy returns!
Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Aishwarya on her birthday. Many happy returns of the day.
2. Tamil Nadu government has introduced a new scheme to help senior citizens to pracrice Vanaprastham and Sanyasam. There is a power cut from 9 AM to 5 PM today in our area and this is the third day powercut in the last 45 days.
Ramu Sarada

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Sundar. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Sundar on his birthday. Many happy returns.
2. Nowadays, we do our routines more as a duty than out of affection - Gayathri, yes. It is very true.
Ramu

Congrats, Akila! I have seen machines that can do embroidery, but not cross stitch. How do you manage to do so many things, what with work & all?! Hats off to you!

Ages ago, at another time, in another world (that’s how it seems now!), athai’s used to come to have their babies to K Nagar. That was a great time of excitement for me. Old used dhoties were cut & the orams adichufied to make small bed spreads for the tiny new born. We had a pedal Usha sewing machine. The pregnant athai was not allowed to pedal. So the hand wheel was used. I used to consider it an honour to be allowed to rotate the wheel while athai did the orams! And if & when I was allowed to do the stitching myself, well, that was the ultimate honour!
Duty & Rights:
Nowadays, we seem to be doing our routine everyday chores (even to our closest family members) more as a duty than out of love.
Hare Ram
Gayathri

Rights and duties

Interesting comments on rights, duties, expectations.

The Gita says, do your duty without any expectation of reward. So what another does or does not do should not concern you. But if you look forward to his or her doing something, that is an expectation. Failing to do something is that person's lookout.

Worrying over children not doing something, which we think they ought to do, falls in the category of an expectation (of a reward for what you have done to them, which was your duty).

Take the display of affection or indifference with equanimity. That is the real meaning of Vaanaprastha--not being affected by what happens around you. However, this is not total withdrawal, which is the next stage, Sannyasa.

Look at my new toy!!!

Look what I've got for myself!!!

My first trial at it was very funny. I borrowed one of Vaishnavi's dupattas (aka, a blouse piece turned into a dupatta) to do the "Oram adichify". The first side was very funny. When I tried the second side, well, it was not great but better than the first.

So, my next mission is to get myself into a weekend crash course on stitching!! So, who else but appa is assigned the task of finding a teacher for me, lol.

As of now, I plan to use this to finish off my cross stitch projects. Am so excited!!!! ::)))

Duty and rights

Reacting to Ramu's post, when I do someone a good turn, it should be as a duty and not thinking of what I can get in return. It is for the other person to consider it HIS duty to do something for me - in return or otherwise.

Jayaraman

From Ramu

Ramakrishnan,
Nice explanation. I do not understand this : " One's right arises only when others do their duty".
News papers say that fake ghee bottles were siezed .
It may be better to make our own ghee from milk. But if milk is adulterated, so it is better to have our own cow. But these days even a cow may be adulterated!!
Ramu

From Ramakrishnan

Hi all,
Let me wish, though late, a happy birthday and many happy returns to Uma, Ram and Jayanth.

Referring to Ramu's two posts:
1. I have read somewhere that the Hindu Religion is based on duties of every one only. The rights of anybody arises only when the other person performs his duty. This is what I read and I am quoting from memory. If one accepts this it becomes easier to tolerate or pardon or ignore if someone fails in his duty towards us (though this is not easy to do without resentment or a desire to punish)and also to do out duty to others without demanding appreciation. If the children do their duty towards their parents without reference to how the parents behave/behaved the senior citizens will not suffer so much today, emotionally or economically. On the other hand, there is not so much problem in the parents doing their duty to the children which comes naturally out of affection and the desire to see that the children are well settled. In Tamil, Thanthai Magarkatrum Udavi Avayathu Mundhi Iruppa Cheyal. Magan Thanthaikkatrum Udavi Ivan Thanthai Ennotran Enum Sol. (Both from Kural). However, with the change in life pattern, the problem now is not so much lack of affection but the need and even necessity to restrict the family size and go abroad for better prospects.

2. Regarding the corruption in the ruling class. Yes, the poor common man learns to smile and since the rulers see God in this smile, they ensure that the number of such people keeps increasing. Today I wanted to buy mangoes and picked up two mangoes and the weight was 750 grams at Rs.48 per Kg. I simply smelled the mangoes (they have not started charging for this), replaced the mangoes and came home and the shopkeeper smiled meaningfully and I returned the smile. Two more persons added to the smiling category.

-Ramakrishnan.

From Ramu

Latest is the arrest of the President of Medical Council for curruption.
Thousands of crores black money is involved in IPL, it is said.
Things like this has become common now in the high society.
Middle income and lower group people keep just watching this helplessly, in spite of knowing what is exactly happening, and continue their struggle. After struggling to face the current situation , they have now realised that nothing can be done and it is better to get used to this and enjoy life.
So, now they have started SMILING always. What a success for the Government. Because the motto of the Government is " see God through the smile of the poor "!!
Ramu

Happy B'day

A very happy birthday to Uma manni and Jayanth.

Happy birthday!

Jayanth celebrates his birthday on the 21st May. Happy birthday, Jayanth. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Uma on her birthday. Many happy returns of the day, Uma.
2. Best wishes to Jayanth on his birthday ( 21 May). Many many happy returns of the day, Jayanth. When this happy day returns in 2011, you would have completed one year of your studies in US. Wish you all the very best.
Ramu Sarada

Happy birthday!

Best wishes, Uma, on your birthday, May 20. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Parvathi's ( Ramamurthy mama's daughter) son's marriage is on 17 June at Thambaram. She has taken the addresses of all our brothers & sisters. She asked me to inform everyone. She will be posting the invitation in due course.
2. Aishwarya's brother's marriage is on 21 June Monday at Ayyappa Samajam, Coimbatore.
They will be posting the invitations in a couple of days.
3. Sarada & I will be leaving for Coimbatore by Cheran Express on 17 June ( KN & Rukku also will be travelling with us ). We plan to go to Ram Nagar straight on 18th, visit Brindavan in the day and go to Ramakrishnan's house for 18th night. We will return to Ram Nagar on 19th.
Ramu

Wishes

I completely forgot to wish all birthday/anniversary celebrants in my last post. Guess was totally excited about sharing the crafty pictures.

Namaskarams/wishes to all celebrants so far.

From Ramu

1. From "Enge Brahmanan" of 13 May:
Earlier, when a boy & girl get married, both used to concentrate on their duties as married partners and their duties stood first, before anything else. But these days, once married, they talk of their rights only, without realising their duties.
I very well remember how all my mannis were fulfilling their duties , sacrifising many things!
Ramu

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Ram. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

Best wishes to Ram on his birthday. Many happy returns of the day. We will do special prayers on this day for Ram, that he should have good health throughout the year
Ramu Sarada

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Shankar Priya on their wedding day 13 May. Many happy returns of the day.
2. Namaskarams to Raju anna Padma manni on their wedding day.
Ramu Sarada

Nostalgia, summer, crafts

Oh, I remember Jay Shankar anna's wedding very well. It fell exactly during our summer holidays and we came from Hyderabad too. There was a cyclone and we took an auto to the mandapam in Luz.

V's summer holidays are half-way through. Thought would share some of v's ways of keeping herself "busy".

We had gone to the beach and I tried my hand at some silhouette shots of her.

It was a lovely view and wanted to make the best of it. And here's V with her library!!!

And some crafty achievements

These were plain wooden magnets that Mohan got from Michaels in USA. V painted these her way.

And here is a pic of my 5-year achievement.

Both are cross stitch pictures. The carnations was a kit that Anu akka gave me. I loved working on it.

Till my next post, so long..

Wedding anniversary

Best wishes to Raju and Padma Manni on their 59th wedding anniversary today, 11th May. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Prasad. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

Raju's wedding

Ramu, Raju's wedding was in 1951. So the 60th Anniversary will come next year. The wedding took place a couple of months before Appa (PSC) retired.

-Ramakrishnan.

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Prasad. His birthday is on 10 May. Many happy returns of the day.
2. I think this is the 60th wedding day of Raju anna Padma manni.
3. I remember a little of Jayaramanna's wedding at Kumbakonam. I remember that big hall in Vimala manni's house where everyone was seated. I remember the concert of Palani Vijayalakshmi. Gatam was by Vinayakaram as a very small boy.
Ramu

Periava & Vimala chitti

My bro-in-law Viswanathan gave us two books full of photos of Kanchi Mahaperiava & I was happily surprised to find the same photo that J chittappa has uploaded here!
Hare Ram
Gayathri

MAY Anniversaries

Jayaramas's wedding was in Kumanakonam and we all went by train. We had Vijaya's 8 mm Movie Camera and Thambi took colour movie with me as lighting assistant.

Raju's wedding was in Papanasam dam where Padma Manni's periappa Pannai Sundaram was Executive Engineer. It was a very enjoyable occasion since the crowd was entirely the close families. With no other entertainment, Jayaraman and I had to sing our songs again and again. A few days before the wedding, at Madras, I had an electric shock from the electric drill and fell unconscious.

Jayashankar's wedding was in Raja Kalyana mandapam in Lua; Saradam and I came from Hyderabad for the wedding.

I wish all the couples many happy returns and also to all the others who are celebrating their birthdays this month.

-Ramakrishnan.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Mythili. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

Best wishes to Mythlily on her birthday today 8 May. Many happy returns of the day.
Ramu Sarada

S’s eye surgery was quite smooth, only the injection for anesthesia was painful, he said. The wound is healing well. But he is not allowed to get the eye wet for another two weeks! And the regimen of eye drops 6 times a day, ointment has to continue too. He resumed going to office yesterday.
This does seem to be a very rare phenomenon, may be because we do not pay much attention to it. This eyelash pricking the eye started even when we were in Bombay, but the occasions were few & far between. In the last 1-2 years, it became more frequent, the eye got infected badly. Which is when the dr said it would have to be corrected surgically.
Two people have now told me they have the same problem - Jayendra (ex K Nagar)& Anuj's grandfather.
Celebrities slide show is really welcome – our wishes to all the celebrators! 
Peria thatha: I was in Xth std, down with chicken pox. I had a dream figuring Mundagakanniammam temple festival and a buffalo. Jangamma said the latter was a bad omen. Peria thatha died that day. Somehow I remember vaguely some talk about ‘aapat sanyasam’ – I didn’t even know what that meant.
Velukkudi's Bhagavatam is now at a stage which will surely make the listener resolve to strive for no-rebirth. May God take us towards that goal.
Hare Ram
Gayathri

Best wishes to PCJ - Vimala manni

Best wishes to Jayaramanna Vimala manni on their wedding day today 5th May. Many happy returns of the day.
Ramu Sarada

Random thoughts

Gayathri, , I hope the surgery went off well and painlessly. I had never heard of ingrowing eyelashes before.

Those who watch Engey Brahmanan will have heard Cho's explanation of the wife's role during vaanaprastha. Whatever any one may say, it is hard to deny that women have been less than fairly treated in all cultures and all religions in the past. While man, with his muscle, is largely responsible for this, women too have to accept some of the blame. For instance, consider the dialogue written for most (Indian) movies and TV serials and see how women are portrayed.

I have revived the 'celebrities' slide show. The May show features the birthday babies and wedding anniversary observers of the month.

From Ramakrishnan.

Re.Gayathri's posting, Peria Thatha (P.S.Swaminathan) did not take 'aabat Sanyaasam'. I wonder where Gayathri got the idea. He was not the type suitable for Sanyasam either.

I fully agree with Ramu's and Gayathri's comments about the fate of the woman in the Varnasramam. But may be MAN includes WOMAN in this and she can also adopt sanyaasam.

Nowadays, the economic and social structure does not facilitate Vaanaprastham and Sanyaasam for the average man. Like my father-in-law perhaps we should, in our old age, eat what we get(at home, without complaining) and spend all our time reading the Bhagawat Gita, and avoid getting involved with the family affairs. But this can happen only if the wife or one of the children take the load.

Now, the children do not want the parents to go away because they need them to look after their children when both husband and wife go to work and also do some housework, receive courier letters etc. They are often unable to appreciate that the old parents do not have the energy for this task.

Coming to my/our life in Kovaipudur, there have been some showers in the last two and the weather is not so hot. Charu and Vivek are leaving for Trivandrum tomorrow for a three week stay.

-Ramakrishnan.

Peria thatha meaning your periappa - Soundarya Nursery thatha.
Gayathri

Rama wedding Guruvayur 26-4-10

Hi all,
I give below the link to the photoes I took at the wedding of Uma's sister Rama at Guruvayur on 26 April2010.

-Ramakrishnan.

http://picasaweb.google.com/pcramki/RAMAAWEDDING?authkey=Gv1sRgCODPyrjItcDhiwE&feat=directlink

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to NGS on his birthday. Many happy returns of the day.
2. Gayathri, whom do you mean as Periathatha?
It is good that you and TSS returned without any trouble because of the valcano.
We shall also pray for TSS's eye surgery.
Ramu

I was thinking of the same thing, Ramu chittappa - when the sastras talk about the stages that a 'man' goes through, what about the woman then? During Grihastasrama, ok, she is the 'saha dharma chari' - assisting the husband to perform his duties. During Vaana (or vana) prastham, who knows who will go first? Is there sanyasam for the woman too?
I remember Peria thatha took aapat sanyasam just before he died. Am I right?
I think basically, the older generation should lessen their expectations & needs, be contented that they have had their life, & follow 'simple living, high thinking' - I guess this is what the Sastras ecpect us to do. (Easier said than done, hehe).

Well, God saved S & me from the Iceland volcano's vagaries - we reached Germany before it rumbled, & left after things returned to normalcy. Will post the pics soon.
One night after we went to bed, I could not sleep. That was when we had seen on TV the volcanic eruption. With bad weather forecast for the next few days. We were wondering if we would have to remain cooped up in the hotel room!
And Siddhar Swami came in my mind & told me to keep photo copies of our passports & not to keep all the money & travellers cheques in one place. This sort of jolted me.
Normally we always keep copies of the passport. We had not done it this time, as I got my passport only on the day we left. And I was keeping the passports & all the money in my handbag. Next morning, we took copies of the pp & also spread out the money in our backpack & with S. I was on the watch out that whole day - thank God nothing untoward happened.
Today S underwent the health check at Shankara Nethralaya. The eyelid correction surgery is fixed for 2pm tomorrow. Hopefully it should go without any hitch.
Gayathri

From Ramu

1. FROM "ENGE BRAHMANAN OF 28/04" : It has become common these days that retired, aged parents and their sons/daughters find it difficult to accept each others' views & elders get a feeling that they are not given their due respect / importance. For this reason only, it is given in our Texts that once elders are finished with their duties, they should take up Vaanaprastham and go out with wife to complete their religious duties. Once that is also over, the man takes up Sanyasam ( what about the wife!!).
2. These days, most companies keep the basic salary of employees low and pay the balance as Variable allowances ( HRA, medical, etc..). I suggest that one such allowance should be Parents Allowance which should be directly paid to the parents!!!( hi hi ).
3. The picture of Maha Periava blessing Vimala manni is very very interesting. I was looking at it for a long time.
4. Happy birthday to Divya. Many happy returns of the day.
Ramu

Vivek's Ooty photoes

Hi all,

Vivek and his parents with a friend visited Ooty for a day on 25/26th April and Vivek took some photoes mainly of flowers and flower gardens. I am trying to give you the link to his web album below:

Ramakrishnan.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Divya. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

May we all be blessed!

This picture was taken from a book containing a collection of pictures of the Paramacharya. It was taken in 1959, when Vimala was on a visit to Chennai.

Pappa's date of birth

In PSC's notebook, which Rukku has, Pappa's date of birth is given as April 24 (Chithirai, Uthiradom).

Downloading the music uploaded by Jayaraman requires Adobe Flash Player, says my computer and it refuses to have that!

KN

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Papa on her 72nd birthday today. Praying for her good health, happiness and peace in the days &years to come. Many happy returns of the day.
2. Also, best wishes to Chandru athimbare - Mythily who celebrated their wedding day a few days back. Many many happy returns of the day.
3. We are fine and things go as a routine. I hope everyone in PSC family is fine.
Ramu Sarada

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Papa. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

TEDxMumbai - Dhanashree Pandit-Rai - 04/03/10

Indian music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXnV5HzS7nA

Do watch the video clip posted above. Dhanashri Pandit Rai holds you captivated.

Jayaraman

Wedding anniversary

Best wishes to Mythili and Chandru on their wedding anniversary today, 18 April.
Many happy returns.
Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Birthday wishes and many happy returns to Ramesh and Kiran.
2. Janga manni`s habbit was to talk to the picture of Lord Krishna in the "saappaadu koodam" for atleast ten minutes, as soon as she gets up in the morning. I do not know who is having that Picture now. I saw Papa also doing that . I feel it is a very good habbit and I am sure God will be hearing everything.
3. One of Vaishnavi`s friend ( 5 years old ) asked a lady ( of 29 years ) with a child in her hands:
" Auntie. Is this a boy or girl".
" This is a boy".
" Auntie. This boy looks just like my father. Is it not?..... Is it not auntie........."
The auntie slowly walked off.
Ramu

Happy birthday!

Best wishes to Ketan on his birthday, 15th April. Many happy returns. Kumar, if you ssee this, could you please send me recent snapshots of Kiran, Ketan, Kristin and yourself? As I had told you on an earlier occasion, the pictures sent by your earlier (when your dad and mom were visiting you) do not open any more. And, in any case, they are also dated now!

Talking of speaking to people on the TV screen (as Vaishnavi does) reminds me of what Jangamanni used to do. She would speak to the gods in the pictures hung at home. I am sure God heard her and brought her some peace of mind when she was troubled.

Power shutdowns

Chennai residents are lucky in the matter of power supply. For us in Thondamuthur, 9 to 5 shutdown once a month is a regular event. Daily there is a scheduled shutdown for three hours, and unscheduled for any length of time. In Brindavan we have been advised not to use the AC between 9.30 and 11.30 p.m. to avoid blowouts in the transformer. We have been assured that this will be set right within a week with an additional distribution board. This is tough in the oppressive weather.

2. Ketan's birthday is April 15, not 14.

3. Thanks for all the wedding anniversary good wishes

KN

Kids!!!

Just thought I'd share something very funny that Vaishnavi did recently:

Vaishnavi loves to watch Airtel Supersinger junior that comes in Vijay TV. And one the participants - Srikanth is her favourite. One day, he apparently won Rs. 1 Lakh. In the next episode the regular judges were back (Singers Mano, Chitra and Shuba). They were not the judges when this boy won the amount. So, Vaishnavi was extremely thrilled to see them back. It seems she was happily talking to Mano and saying "Mano uncle, do you know, Srikanth won 1 lakh yesterday"!!!! Mohan was puzzled what she was doing and then realized that she thinks people who come in TV can see us and can hear us!!!

Happy birthday!

Birthday greetings to Ramesh (13 April). Many happy returns!
Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to KN and Rukku on their wedding day. Many happy returns of the day.
2. There was a power cut yesterday 09th April in our area, from 09 AM to 06.30 PM. I was very happy that it was an oppartunity for me to remember our Texts " Be satisfied with what you have. Look at those who do not have even that .........". I was thinking of the people in Coimbatore and Trichy who have 4 hours power cut daily. I was also remembering our Mannargudi thaathaa who used to have a hand-fan always.
Ramu

Happy anniversary!

Best wishes on your wedding anniversary (9th April). Many happy returns.
Vimala and Jayaraman

FROM RAMU

Gayathri, yes. It is quite a tricky and difficult situation for your Prayas, medical centre now, in view of the( expired and spurious )drugs scam. It is really sad to note how poor people are affected now!! Even the wealthy, what will they do if the medicines are spurious!! I feel the news paper reports are only limited and there are so many things in this issue, not coming to open. Only God can help us!!
Ramu

Yes -its steaming hot here - we are swimming in our own pool (of sweat).
Seems to be cataract time in the family now - today we had an appointment at Shankara Nethralaya for S - both his eyes show beginning signs of cataract!
We mainly went to consult about his in growing eyelashes & recurring eye infection - the lashes have to be corrected surgically. The lash specialist will see him tomorrow & tell us what & when.
The recent expired medicine scam has put our med centre in a spot & we have stopped giving free medicines to the poor. We have been holding a series of meetings as to how we can handle this if an inspection takes place. We are above board, but we never know how the authorities will choose to harass us. In fact we have a meeting of the Trustees tomorrow with the legal dept people at the office.
Our once buzzing med centre looks forlorn as few patients turn up now, as they can't afford to buy medicines that are prescribed. We are hopiong this phase will pass & we are able to get back to srious good work.
Gayathri

From Ramu

Jayaramanna, wish you a speedy recovery.
It is very hot in Chennai . The heat increases year after year. How we are going to manage the April, May , June, July!!!!!!!
Ramu

Cataract

Today Rukku and I went to the Sankara Eye Centre for post-operative review and all was said to be well. The doc asked me when I would like to get the second eye done and I said after some time. But then he said it would not be advisable for me to wear the old lens for the unoperated eye when going out. So I decided to get the surgery for the second eye also done with. It will be tomorrow.

Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Vaishnavi`s school Annual Day functions ( her convocation etc) were better than last years but need much improvement. To limit the crowd, the function was split to two days and Vaishnavi`s was on the first day.
2. Our K.Nagar house was shown in SUN News, sometime back, in connection with the court case against that doctor of Thiruvangur Vaidyasalai.
Ramu

Cataract/graduation

Akila, from what your father told me earlier, the graduation ceremony must have been quite an experience. Was there a valedictorian as well? It is quite likely that soon we will have freshmen, sophomores etc. in our schools. Schools will be called colleges and vice versa. Vive les Etats Unis!

To extract part of a video. I have no clue but a suggestion. Make a copy and cut out the unwanted part.

Cataract - the surgery was painless and short. But the post-operative restrictions have made life more than a little difficult. Tomorrow Rukku and I will see the surgeon for a review and possibly prescript ions for new glasses.

Cataract also means a succession of steep waterfalls within a river. The word is derived from a Greek word meaning 'waterfall'.

KG Graduate(?)!!

Ever heard of a KG graduate?? Well, now Vaishnavi is a graduate in KG!! She had her "Convocation" yesterday and also her annual day. She also participated in a dance.

Here is the graduate

That's her collecting the certificate, unfortunately she's not facing us. This is her in her costume right after her dance. Will try to upload a video of her dance once I am able to extract just her portion from the bigger one.

Perippa, any idea how to extract a small part from a long video?

Cataract! Hope it was easy & chittappa & athai are both doing fine now. When was it? My orpadi Vasantha manni had hers yesterday & I went & saw her today. She looked "cooool" with the dark glasses!

My concert at Chembur went off well - thank God! Rajiv on the mridangam & Harish on the harmonium, Nachiket on the tabla, & Aishwarya doing the ching-chak & refrains were real darlings, which made me so comfortable, I could sing freely & relaxed. I felt really satisfied after a pgm in a long while!

Will be back in Madras on Friday night.
Hare Ram
Gayathri

From Ramu

1. I also went to see the Project work at Vaishnavi`s school. There were many KG students in that room and many visitors too. That kid in Krishna`s costume beside Vaishnavi, teased her and Vaishnavi shouted, " thatha, paaru thatha, ivan ennai adikkiraan"!
2. Hope Jayaramanna and Rukku are progressing well after their cataract surgery.
Ramu

Am still around

I can't believe that I've not checked the blog this whole month!!! Belated wishes to everybody.

Vaishnavi took part in a school project this month. The overall topic was how education imparts value to our daily life. The sub-topic for KG students was A-M of Life skills.

Vaishnavi's team spoke on alphabet "G" and she spoke about God.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mala.

From Ramu

I attended the marriage of Appalai`s second daughter today ( 19 March) in a mandapam near Guindy Race Cource. Mani, Bhuvana manni and Sundar were there. I was happy to see Rukmani manni ( Chuppuni`s wife), Rukku, Jayaraman`s wife, Kalyanam, Gopu, Kannan, Parvathi, etc.
Mani was telling me , after Jayaramanna`s marriage was over in Kumbakonam, Ramakrishnan found a pair of new chappal left behind by someone. So, Ramki brought it to Chennai. When there was a return dinner at Chennai, that someone had come for dinner and said he missed his brand new chappal in the marriage. Then Ramki showed that chappal and the owner was very happy to get it back.
Ramu

From Ramu

1. Best wishes to Arvind ( sorry, I am late) .Many happy returns of the day,Arvind.
2. The get-together at Ashok`s house for Thambi anna`s earlier birthday, was on 12th March 2009. I remember well because we were shifting house at 7 AM on 13th March 2009 and so none of us could attend.
3. We had a good trip to Kumbakonam temples and had good dharshan in many temples.
Ramu

Birthday greetings

Best wishes to Arvind on his birthday on 17th March. Many happy returns!

Vimala and Jayaraman

Happy birthday!

The Family extends its very best wises to Thambi who had his birthday yesterday and wishes him many happy returns. It is nice to recall now the very pleasant party that Ashok had organised on an earlier birthday of Thambi. Many of us were present, as can be seen from the picture above. Happy birthday, Thambi!

Happy birthday

 

 

Best wishes to Srilakshmi on her birthday, 5th March. And to Rajiv, 8th March.
Many happy returns!
Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

1. Happy Birthday, Rajiv. Wish you all the best and many happy returns of the day.
2. Sarada and I are going to Kumbakonam tomorrow by Rockfort Express .We will be there on 10th & 11th in ARK Hotel and visit mainly Uppiliappan Koil and some more temples. On 11th night, we will reach Srirangam by RF Express . We will be returning to Chennai on 14th by Vaigai Express.
Ramu

From Ramu

Best wishes to Ashok, Krishnakumar and Srilakshmi on their birthday. Many happy returns to them.
Ramu Sarada

Happy birthday

 

Birthday greetings to Ashok (3rd March) and Krishnakumar (4th March). Many happy returns!
Vimala and Jayaraman

From Ramu

When I was in 2nd or 3rd standard, there was a chapter on road rules.
Rule for crossing the road was = " Look to the right, look to the left, walk across when there is no vehicle".
The same rule in the year 2000 = " Look to the right, look to the left, walk across very fast seeing all around you to escape ".
The rule now = " Stand at the point where you want to cross the road. Close your eyes and run. Thank God after crossing "!!!!
Ramu