Shared Thots ! ! !

Time can make us forget some memories, but there would be some memories which make us forget the time and those make the life worthwhile.. ...

Don't go the way life takes you but take the life the way you go.

Remember you are born to live and not living because you are born...

Adhuamma, is no more - may her soul rest in peace!

My Grand Mother "Madhavi Amma - 'Adhuamma' who know her close" passed away at about 1.45 PM on 2nd April 2009. 

This pic was taken in 2008, during her better days with good health, except for no eye sight.

She was 102 and looked frail, quite obvious given her age, but looked content and peaceful as she leaves this material world to the next abode with The Almighty. She seemed relieved from the physical anguish of the past 2 months following the crippling (and now fatal) fall. She looked proud leaving behind such a legacy of family members.

Adhuamma was cremated at the Edavalathu Tharavadu premises right next to where her doting elder brother's (Chirakkal Achappan) worldly journey was consummated by Agni in 1997. Her journey of life ended at 1.45 pm IST,

2nd April 09 and her physical being was reduced to ashes at 12.45 pm, 3rd April 09. 

She leaves behind a family who will mourn her passing with the deepest of grief. We can only take whatever consolation there is in the knowledge that she lived a full life with the abundant love and affection of all those who were dear to her.

The 4th day function (Sanjayinam) is on the 5th April and the 12-13th day functions (Adiyantharam) will be on the 14-15 April 09 for those that can make the journey to Mavilayi.

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my daughter. . . URVI

Urvi my daughter is now nearly 3 months old, ears have been pierced and she is improving day by day on weight.

Urvi is now in Coimbatore with her mother and grand parents and even though she is small, yet she manages to attract maximum attention of all and especially her grand mothers. 

I am sorting out all formalities to try and bring Urvi and Premi here back in UAE by the end of April 2009. Very eager to have her in my arms and cherish bringing her up.

Missing U da ! ! !

My baby girlo. . .

Premi and I are please to announce the birth of our first baby girl, born on 21st January 2009 in Ottapalam town, Kerala, India.

She weighs 2.5kgs and is healthy and has embrased the changes (from mothers warm body to outside world) with good spirits.

We have not yet named her, but have finalised a name. The naming ceremony is planned for the 17th Feb'09 (28th day). Will have to wait until then to disclose.

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our girlo (in the loving arms of Premi's mother)

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Holding my baby (what a great feeling, emotionally charged)

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sort of family pic (premi's care taker in the back ground)

My parents, were very thrilled to become grandparents again and more so to get a girl perakutty. Their long cherished desire and dream has been fulfilled. I was told that Amma, became emotional upon knowing that the baby born into the famly was a GIRL.

Unfortunetly, I was not there durin the delivery, but reached 2 days later. Anyways, I cherished each and every moment I was there with the baby and Premi. Holding her in my arms and being aware that this is a part of you and as being partly responsible for its existance, Gotta experience it, no words can explain or convey that...

I cherished what ever limited time, I was able to spend with them.

All that I can say was "you both mean a lot to me"

@ Ottapalam

Yogesh had accompanied Premi and Me to Ottapalam for a few days. We both were quite surprised when he jumped at the opportunity to say that he was going with us and yes he did make the trip and he ensured he had loads of fun too.

He ensured that he was being kind, polite yet himself at every time and anyone who met him were bowled out and people had only good things to say. Premi and I became the bad people, for always being at his back and checking on him. Anyways, He is a darling! No doubt bout that.

A small Lotus and Lilly pond was his favourite place to spend time. Wake up early, rush to the pond and sit there looking at fishes was his main activity and I must say "he was not getting bored at sitting there for 2 or 3 hours at a stretch". He then would cook up stories about the fish to tell us.

He wanted a lotus pond in Coimbatore house, but hopefully we have convinced him out of that and probably by now, he would have even forgotten about the tadpoles, fishes and what not that was in that pool. 

Do we need a small lotus pond in Coimbatore house. Mmm.... think I'll anyways ask parents bout it. What harm would it cause, by asking? Probably, they might like the idea too....!!!

One thing that is similar with Yogesh and Me, we both adore Cars, Planes, Ships, Comics, Cartoons, play crazy things, come out with wacky ideas and not to be missed "get bullied badly" when amongst family members. But we both do not bother about bullies and we are having fun too... So much similarities.    mmm....

I was so thrilled at seeing the Ambi in Premi's house the first time I went there that I was mentioning about me liking Ambi and after marriage I used to sometimes tell my FIL to take the Ambi if we have to go somewhere near. By the way, my FIL also loves Ambi, so he does not hesitate at this suggestion.

While Yogs was in Otap, when ever we had to go out, he would run and get into the Ambi first and my FIL was too happy to see a small boy of this current generation taking a fancy for his good old Ambi. Yogesh completely bowled my FIL and end result, he used to get a lot of Ambi rides.

We had fun at Otap. Also Yogs and me had that bit of extra fun than Premi, when we both returned to Coimbatore by train.

"Aishwarya" - coimbatore house

This is Ashokettan's house in Ganapathy area of Coimbatore. This is a township "GEM Nirmaalayam" consisting for around 80 Villas and 60 residential apartments. We have named the house "Aishwarya". In front is parents car.

Amma's back garden, many plans and she hopes to have some good garden vegetables.

Newly laid lawn in front, Achan's area for watering and maintenance.

Achan in the back drop of nearly 15 hanging pots and about 20 potted plants right from the gate upto the main door (scattered though)

Achan & Amma

My parents are now happily settled in Coimbatore after 50 years of living in Chennai. The change and shifting was no way easy, but the end results are positive and in all angles and thoughts, we have achieved what was intended. They have settled in.

This house is Ashokettan's gift for parents for the years to come. Achan and Amma are having a great time there with many friends and now the complaint is that they do not have enough time. Its sometimes nice when they say that they are with sme neighbors or doing something and that they will back after they are done with that. It feels so nice that they are occupied at something or the other. That was what we all wanted, for them to be happy and to know that they are happy, makes all the sons and DIL's more happy. Over all, a hapy family...

Parents are very occupied with maintaing the plants, Achan takes care of the lawn, potted plants and basically to all plants in the front side of the house and Amma to a small vegetable garden she is developing. She has in the back garden some "Cheera", "Methi", Curry leaves for now and in a short while she would be having a small lemon plant, coriander, pumpkin, chilli etc. They are exploring what all they can grow.

I am eagerly looking forward to the occassion when the full family can be together under one roof for a get together and barbacue if possible with some chill beer and what not to tag along. . . in all probablity there would be another new member in the family by then, probably few days /  weeks or months old. yeah, I am refering to Premi and my Kiddo, expected sometime in Jan'09.

boy's beware. . .

He didn't like the curry
And he didn't like my cake
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.

I didn't prepare the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.

I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue.
Isn't there anything I could do?
To match his mothers shoe

Then I smiled as I saw light
One thing I could definitely do
I turned around and slapped him tight...
Like his mother used to ! ! !

BEST LAW STORY OF THE YEAR ! ! !

BEST LAW STORY OF THE YEAR, DECADE AND PROBABLY THE CENTURY.

Charlotte, North Carolina.

A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars then insured them against, among other things, fire.Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.

In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost 'in a series of small fires.'

The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion... The lawyer sued..... and WON!

(Stay with me now......... ......... ......... )

Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous!!

The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company, in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be 'unacceptable fire', and was thus obligated to pay the claim.

So, rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling, and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the cigars lost in the 'fires'.

(NOW FOR THE BEST PART........ ....... )

After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!!

With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicte of 'intentionally burning his insured property' and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

This is a true story and was the First Place winner in the Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.

my grandma's 100th b'day - news article clips

My Grandma (Amma's mother) reached the 100 years milestone on 29th May 2008.

Around 250 family members had gathered for this event while a few (incl me) missed.

We wish her many more years to come

(article only in Malayalam, appeared in Kannur edition of Malayala Manorama and Mangalam)

(Click on the clips to view em larger for better reading)

Bahrain Snaps

Few snaps taken during our trip to Bahrain. Premi and self had a great time though the visit was too short.

Ash'ettan with Achimona (Yogesh) and Plom Plom (Tejas)

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Premi with Tejas.

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Tejas

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Tejas and Yogesh

Tejas is adorable and Yogs as usual cheerful and at his best.

Looking forward to the next visit to Bahrain... insha allah !!!

Premi N My Car in UAE

Chevrolet Epica

Premi N Me

Lalit - may your soul rest in peace!

My cousin bro Lalit Mohan has left this world on 21st Sept coz of an road accident just minutes from home. He was someone who I could confide anything and everything. We grew up together and we were partners in pranks, mischiefs and fun.

Just the thought that all that is left of him "is the good times we spent in the past, '' pains and he is now only in the mind. Miss u buddy. No words still to express my mind, its just too heavy and big a loss...

Lalit with his just born daughter Ila in Bangalore
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Lalit at the Chennai house
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along with my friends in Bhatia Gardens, Chennai

Following beautiful tribute from my cousin sister , is touching our hearts and is a testimony for what Lalit is to all of us..........thank you ... this means a lot to us and we feel really proud....

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Son. Brother. Husband. Father. Friend.......

Lalit was many things to many people.

And the bottom line is that we were all just very, very lucky to have him in our lives.
Who is to say that 29 is too short?

Brief as his life may have been, he still lived one that was pure, full and free from petty anxieties. He learned, traveled, pursued, understood and discovered things that half the population twice his age have never experienced.

Do not weep for he is in a better place than we can all imagine. The Creator takes away those who are dearest to him so be thankful that his life touched yours, however fleeting it may have been.

MoMa/ Sundari Aunty (his Dad and Mom):

Be proud. Be very proud. You two set the foundation and provided the care and guidance that shaped him into the person we all remember. Your son was kind, generous and full of positive energy that was felt by everyone around him. Continue your lives in the knowledge that you two created something truly beautiful together, which will only inspire the rest of us. Your son is smiling and happy and forever safe in the hands of the Creator and will never ever shed a single tear again. His earthly passing has only guaranteed his future abundance of joy and happiness.

Rama (his wife):

We should all thank you for reciprocating his feelings when you did and showing him the meaning of true love
and for giving him the greatest gift of all – your child together. For this alone we will be forever indebted to you. It was you who made the last decade of his life one that was full of new promises, experiences, passions, confidence and undeniable satisfaction. You were his rock and a love like that will never die. He is your guardian angel now. You must embrace life and learn to love again for that is what he will want.

Malu (his Sister):

If you have ever wondered what the purpose of your life is, then this is it. You are the captain of this ship now and it is you who will proudly steer this family forward. It is the very same Creator who took your brothers life that spared yours. Now is the time to be brave and to mark your presence in this world. Keep your brother’s memory alive for your niece and for your own unborn children so that they may benefit from the goodness of his legacy. Your parents need you now more than they have ever before. Hold them, protect them and remind them that Lalit is now in total comfort and peace.

Ila (his daughter, celebrated her 1st birthday on 29th August in Chennai):

What a precious gift you are!

Your dad is a thousand winds that blow.?
Your dad is the diamond glints on snow.?
Your dad is the sunlight on ripened grain.?
Your dad is the gentle autumn’s rain.?
When you awaken in the morning’s hush, your dad is the swift uplifting rush?Of quiet birds in circled flight.?
Your dad is the soft stars that shine at night.?
We will not let you stand at his grave and forever cry.
For he is there. He did not die.

And lastly, in the words of a poet both Lalit and I shared a mutual respect for;

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand
and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

- Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

======================

A sincere nice tribute to Lalit from his cousin sister Bindu Thampi, Florida.

Taking a cue from Deepa's beautiful message, I wanted to share some of my cherished memories of Lalit.

I still remember his big wide eyes as a child, standing at the railway station with his dad admiring all the "gooss trainss". His taste for Energy flavoured milk, right from babyhood - with loud cries everytime the bottle got empty - right through his teen years. The funny way he sang hindi songs as a child. Especially the song that had his favourite munchie item in it, "Chowpatty jayenge vel poori khayenge....". The way he enjoyed eating chocolate even as an adult, savouring every bite and tempting onlookers.

His appreciation for all the fine things in life while still maintaining simplicity in lifestyle. His fun attempt at growing an afro and looking pretty cool in it!!! The zany kurtis he liked to wear that matched his fun spirit. Our unforgettable trip to Esselworld, Mumbai where he didn't mind sqealing loudly on the monster rides to mask our screams and kept us in splits all through.

The softness in his eyes when he looked at people he loved. A big smile that always reached his eyes and lit up his entire face. He never complained about anything and always shrugged his problems away. All in all I would say there are only pleasant and happy memories of my bro in my mind. While we will all miss him so much, we cannot deny the fact that he lived his time happily and to the fullest. His last 3 weeks in Australia were the happiest times for him and his family of three. He taught us that there is so much to look forward to in life. Rama: he had shown you a glimpse of what he wanted life to be like for you. Please take that vision and build on it for you and for Ila kutty in his loving memory. That's what he would have wanted most. I'd like to visualise him flying - like he always wanted to.

love,

Bindu.

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With my in-laws and Premi @ Burj Al Arab, Dubai.

WHERE TO TAP

Ever heard the story of the giant ship engine that failed? The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!

A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer ........................ $ 2.00

Knowing where to tap ............................ $ 9998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.

http://www.tradergav.com/2007/09/04/tapping-or-knowing-where-to-tap/

Indian

Is Onam becoming a money-spinning festival?

My bro Ashok, sent the below article to all my family members and after reading, I thought that I should have it posted in my blog, so here it goes

There was this interesting article from The Hindu that I happened to read earlier today....
is Onam becoming a money-spinning festival?

My bro's take: Who really cares as long as the 'spinner' and the 'spinned' have fun !!

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Festival of Onam, from legend to mirage
V.R. Krishna Iyer


How Kerala's once-egalitarian festival has been vulgarised by commercialisation


Onam as a festival is an ancient tradition that makes the people of Kerala rejoice, across community divisions and regional differences. It is based on the legend of Mahabali, a ruler who was extraordinarily generous to his people who were all peers in prosperity. His socialistic governance was ended by Mahavishnu. But Mahabali expressed a royal desire to see his people in the same prosperous state at least once a year. This desire is manifested in Onam, which every non-penurious family celebrates. This legendary event over 10 days is marked by flower carpets, feasts, fine new clothes, gifts... Businessmen now give a bonus to their employees, and middle class youth imbibe intoxicants. All this put together, the occasion makes the people as a whole an egalitarian fraternity with dignity and excitement. However, of late this grand occasion has been entirely vulgarised by an outrage of commercialisation. The mafia and the merchant class exploit it in every dimension. The craze for consumerism by the new wave of money-making mega-business groups is abetted by the media who profit from a surfeit of advertisements. Glitterati, gluttony and luxurious pleasures are exaggerated beyond measure.

Some newspapers, in addition to their regular daily issue, distribute special supplements with a glut of advertisements. They are rich in illusion, tempting the youth and the fairer gender into expenditure beyond their means.

Onam has today become robbery, bankruptcy and alcoholism, fleecing the spirit of the festival. Even flowers are sold in shops. No more the tradition of children picking flowers from nature and displaying beautiful designs in front of every home and institution. Now more than ever before, everything is shopping and drinking and allied extravaganzas. What a pity that the socialistic pattern of society, with a secular content, is drowned in corporate business, ruining families by corrupting it to beg, borrow or steal and buy the joys of the flesh.

This cultural counter-revolutionary process must be extirpated, the poor remembered and the true ethos of Onam restored to its pristine state of universal happiness in spontaneous felicity.

Let me recall the legend. When Mahabali was the ruler of the world and was generous to everyone in philanthropic excess, Mahavishnu tested the measure of magnificence of the people's prince. He incarnated as a humble and diminutive Brahmin and requested the ruler for a three-foot stretch of earth as a gift. Maveli readily granted it, not knowing that the request was coming from none other than Mahavishnu, the Infinite Power. The first and the second paces of earth covered Maveli's whole kingdom. "Where is the space for me to put my foot on the third step?" asked Vamanan, the dwarf.

The King never refused a gift and so, for the third step, he offered his head before Vamana. Down went the king into the bottomless depth. But as he descended into oblivion, the humiliated royalty, beloved of his subjects who were prosperous in equal measure, realised that the midget Brahmin who begged was really the Lord of Universe. He made a prayer expressing his last wish: 'Lord, give me an opportunity, once a year, to see my dear subjects who were ever happy during my time, to behold them in the same happy mood as they were when I was with them".

The Lord, in his mercy, granted this glimpse of glory.

Onam is that occasion and all are happily equal as Mahabali comes to the earth and graces what was once his kingdom. The emperor and the subjects in limitless delight celebrates Onam day, and everyone rejoices by getting a gift from the elders and receiving the blessings of Mahabali.

My bro Ashok, sent the below article to all my faily members and afterreading, I thought that I should have it posted in my blog, so here it goes

There was this interesting article from The Hindu that I happened to read earlier today....
is Onam becoming a money-spinning festival?

My take: Who really cares as long as the 'spinner' and the 'spinned'
have fun !!
------------------------------

Festival of Onam, from legend to mirage


V.R. Krishna Iyer


How Kerala's once-egalitarian festival has been vulgarised by
commercialisation


Onam as a festival is an ancient tradition that makes the people of Kerala rejoice, across community divisions and regional differences. It is based on the legend of Mahabali, a ruler who was extraordinarily generous to his people who were all peers in prosperity. His socialistic governance was ended by Mahavishnu. But Mahabali expressed a royal desire to see his people in the same prosperous state at least once a year. This desire is manifested in Onam, which every non-penurious family celebrates. This legendary event over 10 days is marked by flower
carpets, feasts, fine new clothes, gifts... Businessmen now give a bonus to their employees, and middle class youth imbibe intoxicants. All this put together, the occasion makes the people as a whole an egalitarian fraternity with dignity and excitement. However, of late this grand occasion has been entirely vulgarised by an outrage of commercialisation. The mafia and the merchant class exploit it in every dimension. The craze for consumerism by the new wave of money-making mega-business groups is abetted by the media who profit from a surfeit of advertisements. Glitterati, gluttony and luxurious pleasures are exaggerated beyond measure. Some newspapers, in addition to their regular daily issue, distribute special supplements with a glut of advertisements. They are rich in illusion, tempting the youth and the fairer gender into expenditure beyond their means.

Onam has today become robbery, bankruptcy and alcoholism, fleecing the spirit of the festival. Even flowers are sold in shops. No more the tradition of children picking flowers from nature and displaying beautiful designs in front of every home and institution. Now more than ever before, everything is shopping and drinking and allied extravaganzas. What a pity that the socialistic pattern of society, with a secular content, is drowned in corporate business, ruining families by corrupting it to beg, borrow or steal and buy the joys of the flesh.

This cultural counter-revolutionary process must be extirpated, the poor remembered and the true ethos of Onam restored to its pristine state of universal happiness in spontaneous felicity.

Let me recall the legend. When Mahabali was the ruler of the world and was generous to everyone in philanthropic excess, Mahavishnu tested the measure of magnificence of the people's prince. He incarnated as a humble and diminutive Brahmin and requested the ruler for a three-foot stretch of earth as a gift. Maveli readily granted it, not knowing that the request was coming from none other than Mahavishnu, the Infinite Power. The first and the second paces of earth covered Maveli's whole kingdom. "Where is the space for me to put my foot on the third step?" asked Vamanan, the dwarf.

The King never refused a gift and so, for the third step, he offered his head before Vamana. Down went the king into the bottomless depth. But as he descended into oblivion, the humiliated royalty, beloved of his subjects who were prosperous in equal measure, realised that the midget Brahmin who begged was really the Lord of Universe. He made a prayer expressing his last wish: 'Lord, give me an opportunity, once a year, to see my dear subjects who were ever happy during my time, to behold them in the same happy mood as they were when I was with them". The Lord, in his mercy, granted this glimpse of glory.

Onam is that occasion and all are happily equal as Mahabali comes to the earth and graces what was once his kingdom. The emperor and the subjects in limitless delight celebrates Onam day, and everyone rejoices by getting a gift from the elders and receiving the blessings of Mahabali.

Cars I wished . . . but changed my mind later on. . .

Dodge Caibre - 2 Litre, Front Wheel drive, Crossover Sedan

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Dodge Durango - 5.7 Litre, 4x4, 8 Seater

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Dodge Nitro - 3.7 Litre, 5 Seater, 4x4, V6

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Mitsubishi Magna - 3.5 Litre, V6.