Getting Ready to Move out of my Bandra Studio

Monday, July 29, 2019
Bombay

Getting Ready to Move out of my Bandra Studio

     Namaste from Bombay!
     Today was all about packing...and packing...and still more packing! I felt drained by day's end.            What's worse, I have made the sudden (and very depressing) discovery that I have a mild case of plantar fasciitis. For those unacquainted with this ailment, it is, medically speaking, inflammation of the plantar fascia which is the thick band of tissue that runs under the soles of our feet and which is connected with the muscle group that runs all the way up to our thigh. In layman's terms, it translates as terrible pain in the soles of your feet. The first (and surest) indication that you have it is that you feel pain and discomfort on the soles of your feet when you first wake in the morning and put your feet down on the ground. The bad news is that there is no medication in allopathy to deal with it. Only exercises to stretch the plantar can work. The good news is that there is medicine in homeopathy that can help the condition. But in both cases, there is no instant relief.  It still takes weeks to months to years to disappear completely, depending on the severity of the inflammation. I had a really virulent case of it, ten years ago, that took a whole five years to heal. So I am fully familiar with the symptoms and the stages of it and I am certain that I have contracted a very mild case--in both feet.
     Needless to say, I have already started the stretching exercises and I am doing them on the hour, every hour, as I still spend long hours at my laptop while stretched out on my bed. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks (and with homeopathic pills which I intend to get soon from my homeopathic practitioner based here in Bombay), it will get better--and not worse. What's really frustrating is that, unlike the last time in London when I had really abused my feet by walking for miles and miles each day while wearing the wrong footwear, this time I have done almost no walking at all. So I simply cannot fathom why it had shown up again to plague me. Like I said, let us hope it is only temporary...
     That said, I awoke at 6.30 and began blogging and reading. I had my breakfast of two chappatis with peanut butter (which I finally finished) and Nutella (which I shall finish tomorrow) and coffee. Then began my packing. I went through all my kitchen cabinets and I placed the remaining bottles, jars and containers, etc. in large bags. They were meant to be delivered to Dad in the evening. Tomorrow I shall work on my fridge before I switch it off and clean it up. It is still amazing to me how much time was consumed doing this.
     Next I had some important paper work to attend to--this needed to be printed out and then photocopied--so another trip to Jay, my photocopier, was in order. Then, Dad called to tell me that he happened to have gone to the bank and made the sad discovery that the clerk who has been so helpful to him and me through the year, Jayant, was being transferred and would not be able to assist us any more. Dad was heart broken as this man has been such a boon to have around. He told me that he would like me to stop by also to say goodbye to him as this is his last day. Dad also wondered if I could think of a Thank-You gift that I could give him on behalf of both of us. I had just the thing for him and I told Dad that!
     So then, I got the documents I needed printed on a flash drive and I got ready to run my errands. But first, I had the last of Valerie's wonderful meals for lunch--chicken mince, paneer with peas and potatoes with spinach with one chappati. While eating I watched a series of four You Tube videos on the Galapagos Islands and I was able to relive the lovely holiday that we had taken exactly a year ago.
     That done, I left my studio and carried a bag filled with some of my kitchen items--my electric kettle, some glass bowls, my grater and potato peeler--to leave at Dad's place as I will not be carrying those back to the States. I am still patting myself on the back at the foresight with which I packed the items I would need daily (such as my French cafetierre and my sterling silver tea pot) and the few gadgets I had bought in China (grater, potato peeler, scissors, etc.) I have used every single one of the items I carried. Nothing was superfluous. Ditto with my clothes. There is only one fancy suit and one fancy dress I did not use as I did not get invited to any weddings this year. Ebery single other item was used and used well.
     I met Jayant and with a huge lump in my throat, I thanked him for is excellent service to Dad and myself and I wished him well on his new assignment--all the way in Yeotmal (Yavatmal) which is a remote, rural corner of Maharashtra. What a pity that he will be so far away from Bombay! He spent a few minutes talking to me and told me that he will never forget Dad whom, he said, he regarded as his own father and not like a customer at all! He told me that I am truly blessed to have him for my Dad--as if I did not know that already! Still, he accepted our gift gratefully (which I had wrapped in a gift bag) and I left (still feeling very tearful).
      Everyone at Dad's place was resting and having a nap. I left the bag with the items I had carried over in the living room and crept out (I have a key that allows me to enter without disturbing anyone) and then I walked to Jay's where I got my photocopying work done.
     Back home, I had a shower and shampoo and took a short nap.  When I awoke, I continued packing again. All I now have to do is fit in my costume jewelry--and as I am always afraid to put it in my suitcases (I once had beautiful vintage costume jewelry stolen out of my suitcase on a flight from the US to London--obviously by security people), I never keep even costume jewelry anywhere other than in my carry on.
     In the evening, at 4.00 pm, I hopped into a rick and made my way to the Bandra Post Office where I had made plans to meet my cousin, Ruby. She was taking me to her goldsmith as I had some costume jewelry that needed repairs. It was one of the things I wanted to accomplish and I was glad that she knew someone who could help me. Sunil, the jeweler, took a look at my items and told me to return tomorrow to pick them up as he will try and do his best to repair them. Ruby and I then walked to Elco as I thought we could get some refreshment--but I believe Elco is closed on Monday as it was fully shuttered. 
     By the time I got home it it was tea time but as I had packed up and left my electric kettle at Dad's already, I could no longer make myself tea! I sat down to download some viewing material when I discovered that I have 3 days left to watch my monthly quota of 6 items on Hoopla. I finished the downloading and thought of going to Mass when I found that the rain was drumming down steadily and that it would be tough to take my things to Dad at this time. So, I simply made an appointment with Fr. Colman for tomorrow (he needs to sign and notarize a document for me) and I did some reading to prepare for a meeting tomorrow. I called Dad and told him that I would not be coming to Mass. 
     I spent the evening closing up my suitcases and weighing them on my weighing scale--I am well within my limits (Thank God!) and then cleaning up my little studio. I cleaned the inside of all the kitchen cabinets as well as my night stands. I just kept clothes aside for the next couple of days. Everything else is now packed away.
     Then because I was well and truly knackered, I sat down to watch Collision on Hoopla--a British TV show starring a young and dishy Douglas Henshall (who has a pronounced Scots accent) and has  the bonus of being written by Anthony Horowitz whose work I simply love (Midsomer Murders and novels like The Magpie Murder, The Word was Murder, etc. which I had spent the early part of my year in Bombay reading). Needless to say, it was compelling and I binge-watched three episodes before I chatted with Llew briefly and hit the sack.
     Until tomorrow...which will be my second last morning in my Bandra studio!

    


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Celebrating St. Anne's Feast at Dad's and 'Dear Liar' at Prithvi Theater

Sunday, July 28, 2019
Bombay

Celebrating St. Anne's Feast at Dad's and Dear Liar at Prithvi Theater

     Namaste from Bombay!
      Wow! Today was a most unusual day--but then almost every day in Bombay has been unpredictable. I have rarely had a dull moment!
     I was awake at 6.30 am and felt almost relieved that I did not have to rush off to church--as I went last night for the Saturday evening Mass. Instead, I downloaded the Sunday Times of London and finally finished my audio book (The Silkworm by R.K. Galbraith, aka JK Rowling). I have to say that I did not realize who the killer was till the last revelation and that I have grown to rather like the detecting couple: Cormoran Strike (How like JKR to give her protagonist a name like that!) and his assistant, Robin (Batman and Robin?) I have dowloaded Circe by Madeline Miller, also as an audio book, but with only 6 days left before I have to return it (and the book is in hot demand right now), I doubt I shall actually finish it.
     So not long after my breakfast of chappatis with spreads (getting over quickly), I went off to Dad's place to make sure all was in control. You see, this afternoon was supposed to be a farewell lunch for me at which my cousins would be present at Bandra Gym. But when I realized, last night, that today was St. Anne's Feast, I did not feel comfortable leaving Dad and Russel alone for the feast lunch. So I sent out a text to my cousins asking if they would not mind moving the venue to Dad's place. They all thought it was a great idea but still insisted on splitting the cost. Of course, I would have nothing of it. Back at Dad's, Rohit had done a great job getting all the china and silverware out and setting up the living room, the dining table, etc. I made sure everything was in place and was actually present when the bottles of beer were delivered. I then left and hurried home for a shower and to order the food.
     I did that as soon as I got home. We decided to have a Chinese menu with Chicken Singapore Noodles, Chicken in Honey Ginger Sauce and Vegetables in Hot Garlic Sauce. There were also fuggias, potato chops and pan rolls that I had picked up yesterday from the church fete and these we would put out on the table too.
      I had just finished showering when my guy Sameer called from Bandra Gym to tell me that my food was ready for pick up. I left my place and was Bandra Gym in five minutes and carrying the food to Dad's, I was there just before 1.00 pm. A few of my cousins had already arrived. I apologized for the delay and then Meera got down to the task of taking drinks orders and furnishing them while I handled the nibbles--putting spicy peanuts and potato chips into bowls. And so the party began. We were about a half hour into it when my cousin Bonnie arrived. Linnet had bought a cake which said 'Happy Feast' on it and so we decided to serve it for dessert.
     Soon, it was time to heat the food and get it organized and I did so with a bit of help from Meera, Dad and Rohit. Since we were a small group of just nine folks, it was very easy and I was not in the slightest bit stressed. The meal was much appreciated and we had the best time. I do not remember laughing so much with all my cousins in such a long time. Russel was also part of the evening in his wheelchair, Dad who was still not quite fighting fit, was mainly relaxing or just walking in to offer his help and so it went on. The afternoon just flew as we chatted nineteen to the dozen and listened to a lot of the conversation that Russel was making. I felt really pleased with myself that I had made the decision to move the party over to Dad's as Russel and he also had a grand time.
     For dessert, we cut the cake Linnet brought and we all put our hands on the knife as it was a Feast Day for Dad, Russel, Meera, Cyril and myself as we all belong to St. Anne's parish. I had purchased little pots of vanilla ice-cream for dessert and so I served that too for dessert--it went really well with what turned out to be a fresh cream-pineapple layer cake. I also took orders for tea and as everyone wanted tea, that was what I ended up making. I keep repeating myself but it really was a fun time!
     My cousin Bonnie also broke the news that her daughter Hailey was getting married on December 30 and she told me that she hoped to see me at the wedding. I was happy to get the news well in advance. I can now plan my next trip to Bombay keeping in mind that I have a big family wedding to attend--probably the last of the family weddings as Hailey is almost the youngest of my cousin's kids. It certainly gives me something to which I can look forward on my next trip to Bombay!
     It was actually 5.00 pm by the time my cousins got up to leave--by which time I was ready to leave myself--for my next appointment. I wheeled Russel back to his room as his attendant Rohit had left for the 4.30 pm evening Mass in Hindi at St. Teresa's Church. That done, I hurried off to meet my friend Maria whom I was meeting at her gate for our date at the theater. Five minutes later, she was picking me up from Dad's gate by rick and we were off.
     Maria happens to be the next-door neighbor of Naseeruddin Shah, the actor, who has lived in the same building for over three decades with his wife, Ratna Pathak-Shah who was my classmate at Elphinstone College. They were in a full-length duet on stage called Dear Liar by Jerome Kitty, based on the long romantic relationship between the playwright George Bernard Shaw and the stage actress Mrs. Patrick (Kitty) Campbell. I had seen them in the same play, thirty years ago, when I used to be a theater critic for the Bombay press. The play was put on again to celebrate the Ruby (40h Anniversary) of Motley, the Theater Company that Naseer and his best drama school buddy Benjamin Gilani, had founded. When I had interviewed Naseer, about three months ago (how time flies!) he had told me about Motley's anniversary but I was not sure that I would still be in Bombay at this time.
     Anyway, Motley is celebrating its fortieth anniversary with a festival of plays at the Prithvi Theater where the career of so many of the stars took off. Nasser became the most successful of the lot but every single one of them breathed life into Bombay's theater world and I was very fortunate to have been there at the very beginning when it all began. For that reason, I was very happy to be present with Maria, forty years later, to see a play that I had seen on stage when it had been originally staged by the same two actors--who, since then, got married and had two children. Based on the interesting, if off-beat relationship between two talented and very feisty characters, the play made superb watching. It was also very realistically portrayed by these veteran actors whose few verbal gaffs on stage only made the production more credible. Maria and I loved it as they played to a full-house in the small Prithvi Theater. I am glad that I finished my year of Fulbright research in Bombay with this play. I am now looking forward to returning home to Southport and starting work on what will become my book.
     Maria and I took a rick back when a delightful evening at the theater ended. She had to hop off soon to meet her cousins for dinner at the Marriott Hotel but I carried on home to Bandra.
     I had dinner chez moi--the remains of the Vietnamese pho (with strange black noodles) that I had carried from Anil and Ninaz's place last night when our evening had ended so suddenly with Anil's illness. I also ate a bit of the Chocolate Vertigo Cake that I bought from the cafeteria at the Prithvi Theater with some of the Belgian Chocolate Ice-cream that I bought yesterday from Huber and Holly.
     While eating, I watched a really fantastic movie called The Next Three Days with Russel Crowe and Elizabeth Banks--a real thriller if ever there was one. Knowing, as you all now do, that I tend to fall asleep in front of the telly, I will tell you that I was wide awake as the adrenalin had pumped right through my system with the excitement of the film that kept me on the edge of my seat. This is compelling watching!  Please watch this movie!!!
     I then had a long chat with Llew with whom I had not spoken for quite a while. We caught up before I realized that it was 1.00 am and fell asleep!
     Until tomorrow... 

 

Focus on Moving, St. Anne's Novena Ends and (Eventful) Dinner with Friends

Saturday, July 27, 2019
Bombay

Focus on Moving, St. Anne's Novena Ends and (Eventful) Dinner with Friends

     Namaste from Bombay!
     The weekend is here again and I am swamped with ever so much going on. The focus is still on packing and moving. But I did have a morning's appointment at Dad's.
     Waking up by 6.30, I blogged, continued listening to my audio book (which is very lengthy--The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling) and had my breakfast--chappatis (that have accumulated in my fridge and freezer that I am trying hard to finish) with the last of my peanut butter and Nutella (just a few tiny smidges left). Then, I sat down to do some research on my computer with regards to a certain local school about which I need to find out more.
     The rain was continuous and, at times, heavy. I wondered whether or not my morning's appointment at Dad's would occur. I was meeting another technician who was coming to survey Dad's flat and find out how and where the CCTV cameras that I am interested in installing can be placed. He texted me to say that he was running late but that he would definitely be there. I, in turn, relayed the message to Dad but about an hour later, I was at Dad's and about 45 minutes after that, he arrived. It appears he was stuck in the rain in Sion which had become water-logged. He was on a two-wheeler--so was not making much headway in the rain. In the end, he abandoned his vehicle, got into a rick and arrived at Dad's.  By that time, my cousin Meera had come over to Dad's to drop off some sorportel that she had made and to pay her electricity bill in the building next door. It was good to visit briefly with her before the technician arrived. He surveyed the place and told us that he would get back to us in a day or two. I did not stay long after that as I had already spent almost two hours at Dad's place waiting for him.
     Back home, I continued my packing and put together a whole bag full of things to take to Dad's place and to leave there. I am making good headway as I isolate things I need to give away to people.  I shall leave a lot of my cotton clothes at Dad's place so that I will not need to carry too many things when I return to Bombay at the end of December. I shall pack away my kitchen things only on July 30 as I need those things until the very last minute. Wow! Parting is such sweet sorrow.
     By Saturday morning, my accommodation arrangements in London were also finalized. That brought me much relief. I shall now go ahead and have the Fulbright folks in Delhi carry on with the booking of my ticket. 
    I stopped at lunch time to eat what will be my very last meal from Valerie. There was chicken mince, paneer with peas, potatoes with spinach and one chapati. My fruit man arrived at my door and was surprised when I told him that I did not want to buy anything. He asked why not and I told him that I was leaving and so wanted to empty my fridge. He asked where I was going and when I told him I was going back to America after a year, he was shocked, happy and sad--all at the same time. He wished me well, gave me his blessings and said his goodbye. I had a lump in my throat as I thanked him for his services to me and the real convenience of having fruit brought to my very door by a very nice man. I suppose I shall see him at Dad's place during my last week there.
     After lunch, I continued to make plans on my computer with friends that I intend to see in London.  Alas, some folks will not be available...but I have a few new places that I want to see on my agenda and I am looking forward, above all, to meeting my American friends Bonnie and Art, both in London and in Oxford where I shall now be staying for an extra day and night. I hope to be able to take a bus into the Cotswolds while I am Oxford-based.
     In the evening, I had a pot of tea with a biscuit and then jumped into the shower. I got dressed for Mass--evening Mass--as I thought I would accompany Dad who still looks rather fragile. I carried all the things I wanted to drop off to him and I set out. I visited with Russel for an hour as Dad got ready, He showered and dressed but then I took one look at him and I told him not to come with me as he looked really very weak and he sounded so worn out too. Fortunately he took my advice although Russel was very annoyed that I had made Dad change his plans.
     I was at church soon after for the 6.45 (last) novena followed by Mass at 7.00 pm. Mass was said by Fr. Ruben Tellis who was easily the best preacher of the week. A wonderful speaker, his homily was meaningful and inspirational and I kept wishing we had a priest of such dynamism and with such a fantastic ability to express truly moving spiritual concepts with such elan. Alas! Not every priest is a good speaker and I guess we must be grateful that there are still vocations--given the insistent seductions of the modern world.
     I met a few friends outside church after Mass but I did not linger long as I had to hurry off to the Fete which is held once a year to celebrate the feast. Local communities get together to put up stalls that sell food made by the parishioners: things like potato chops, pan rolls, puran polis, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken mayonnaise rolls, cutlets, brownies, sliced cake, etc. Dad and Russel had told me to buy fuggias (an East Indian speciality which looks like small round fried balls of dough--they eat them with curry), potato chops and pan rolls. Most items were swiped before you could say "Good Saint Anne!" In fact, people had already placed their orders before going in for Mass! Their large white plastic bags awaited pick-up as soon as Mass was over. As for us, lesser mortals, we had to wave our rupee notes like we were bidding for the hottest antiques at Sotheby's or Christie's as we attempted to catch the attention of the poor hapless salespeople who looked shell-shocked themselves by the aggressive demand! It was hilarious!
     I managed to get pan rolls and potato chops and fuggias and then hurried off to drop them at Dad's. Meanwhile, I had a dinner appointment too--so it was a frenzied evening for me. My friends Anil and Ninaz had invited me for a very casual dinner at their place. However, I wanted to get back home as I needed to pick up a bottle of Gordon's gin that I had purchased at duty free in China and which I wanted to gift them as it was still in its sealed duty free packaging! I had already kept it ready in a gift bag. I have to say that I had equipped myself with three bottles of gin for my year in Bombay. But, in the end, I managed to consume just one! I will leave the third one in Dad's bar! Luckily, I found a rick right down the road, asked the driver to detour to my studio so that I could pick up the gin and then I got back in the same rick and reached their place in about ten minutes.
     Dinner was moving steadily along with drinks and nibbles when Ninaz noticed that Anil was looking kind of peaky. He kept insisting he was okay but, after a while, it became evident that he was shivering. Next thing we knew, he was running into the bathroom and then retching. Okay, that brought a swift and sudden end to our evening! By that time, we had ordered Vietnamese pho which was expected to be delivered anytime. Anil went directly to bed as he was suddenly weakened and felt awful. When the food was delivered, Ninaz and I barely touched it as neither of us could eat at all. I kept hoping it was a temporary bout of nausea Anil was having but then he said he was feeling feverish and took a Crocin. Wow! It was going to be something a bit more serious. We just about tasted our food when we decided to pack it up. It was about 11.00 pm by then and normally Anil and Ninaz drop me back. Since they could not do so, I needed to leave quickly as I would be alone. So I packed up my pho, hastily said my goodbyes and left.
     I found a rick downstairs in just a few minutes and was home in the next five minutes. Needless to say, the scare we received at the end of the evening made me do nothing more than wash and brush and floss my teeth and go straight to bed after another crazy day!
     Until tomorrow...     

Applying for an Aadhar Card, Lunch with my Doctoral Mentor, Tea with a Friend and Inauguration of Eunice de Souza Library Collection

Friday, July 26, 2019
Bombay

Applying for an Aadhar Card, Lunch with my Doctoral Mentor, Tea with a Friend and Inauguration of Eunice de Souza Library Collection at St. Xavier's College

     Namaste from Bombay!
     Whew! I had a full and very tiring day together--so let me put you through it all.
     I awoke at about 7.00 and raced through a blog post and breakfast (Muesli and Coffee--I finished up the last of my home made granola and the yogurt in my fridge--but I still have some almond milk left) and I jumped into the shower. I was out and dressed and ready to leave for the city by 9.10 am.

BEST Buses are Updated:
     The 220 bus came along in about five minutes--it is amazing that with the BEST having dropped their bus ticket rates to half (just Rs. 5 now, as opposed to Rs. 10 to get to the station), the lines are longer, the buses have all seats occupied and the poor 'shared' rickshaw drivers stand sadly by and watch their thriving business dry up. Good for the BEST! If these moves will save the company and its business, more power to them. I am emotionally attached to the BEST--it is the public transport system of Bombay with which I grew up (akin to London's red buses) and, humble though they might be, they have iconic status in my psyche. There are now a fleet of yellow air-conditioned BEST buses as well--I have no idea what the fare is (probably higher) but they are few and far-between and I hope I will have the opportunity to ride in one of them before I have to leave Bombay. 
     I was at Bandra station in no time and buying myself a First Class one-way ticket from the ticket window as my monthly pass has long expired. I then waited for about 15 minutes for the Bandra local train and when it came along, I went into the First Class General compartment (which remained mostly empty) all the way to Churchgate.

Browsing at Kitab Khana:
     From Churchgate, I walked towards Flora Fountain. En route, I passed by the Bikha Behram Well which dates from 1725 and is open to Parsis only. I took a picture and crossed the street to get towards Flora Fountain. Then, quite by chance, I found myself at Kitab Khana, the very popular book store that also has a cafe at the back and has become quite the most popular local hang-out spot for the city's English-speaking elite. I browsed through the shelves and chanced to come upon some personalized book marks in metal. I decided to pick one up as a small gift for Vrinda, my mentor, who was treating me to lunch.  I was really happy to find one with a V on it--what better gift to give one's doctoral mentor than a book mark, right?

A Visit to St. Thomas' Anglican Cathedral:
     I then asked for directions to Bombay Samachar Marg where the Bank of Maharashtra is located--so that I could at least see exactly where to find it. I was directed towards Horniman Circle and found myself passing right by the Anglican St. Thomas Cathedral. So, then, of course, I had to go in as it is one of my favorite places in the city of Bombay. I simply adore its quiet, serene interior, the ornate wrought-iron black ceiling fan suspenders that are unique to this church (I have never seen anything like them in any other church any where in the world), their teak wood pews with holes for the colonial regiment standards that the young sub-alterns would carry in and out of the church, the ornate marble font. Plus, there is the most glorious Victorian mortuary sculpture you can find anywhere in the city and I love to read the dedications on the marble plaques that speak of deaths in military battles, of falling off an elephant's back, of dying by bites from poisonous snakes and tigers. My eye was caught for the first time in this church by a stained glass panel that features three saints and which reminded me immediately of the style of the Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones. I took a picture of it and sent it, through Twitter, to my friend, Fiona Mann who teaches Art History at Oxford Brookes University and she responded immediately. She told me that it was the work of the English Henry Holiday (1839-1927),  a design he did for the firm of Thomas Kempe that was then shipped out to India! So it was very much by a contemporary of Burne-Jones and I felt chuffed to know that I had guessed correctly.
      
Looking for Bank of Maharashtra:
     The clerk who deals with applications for the card only arrived after 12.30--so I would actually be applying for it after my lunch appointment. But I wanted to make sure I knew where to go as the lanes in the Fort area as a real colonial maze and it is not easy to find a building without good directions.  By asking around, I did find the place and then walked swiftly towards Rampart Row. Vrinda had told me to meet her at The Irish House at Kala Ghoda.
     A quick five minute walk took me to the venue and Vrinda had just arrived there too. The restaurant did not open until 12 noon, so we browsed around in a gift shop next-door and both of us ended up buying a beautiful white metal cuff that cost just Rs. 160--that is about $2! It is such a statement piece that I simply had to buy it! A few minutes later, we found our way upstairs to the Irish pub.

Pub Lunch at The Irish House:
     And how delighted I was by it! It is such a lovely place--as authentic an Irish pub as you might find in the heart of Bombay. And because it is a chain, it also has many branches--including one in Bandra. There were a variety of cocktails as well as a number of draft beers on tap. And the menu was authentically Irish: they had fish and chips that actually looked like it does in the UK--not like the disappointing fish and chips I had at Bandra Gym the other day!   
       They also had a great Lunch Menu Deal for Rs. 495--one had a vast choice of (non-alcoholic) drinks (I had a virgin mojito), a starter (I chose sweet potato fries and Vrinda had Moroccan chicken skewers), a main (I had lasagna which was fab and very Italian with real ricotta cheese, while Vrinda had the Grilled Chicken with Pepper Sauce that came with Pasta Pesto; a side: I got a Caesar Salad while Vrinda chose Spicy Potato Wedges and finally, for dessert, I got a Hazelnut Chocolate Dome while Vrinda got the Honey-Walnut Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice-cream!). Can you imagine having so much great food? We shared everything, so we got to sample an enormous amount--and, of course, since we are both small eaters, we took large portions of our meal home in doggie bags! Best of all, we got to reminisce about old times, the people we knew then (some of whom have passed away), the common friends we still have, members of our families, our travel plans, our writing assignments, etc. Apart from having once been my professor, Vrinda is a dear friend and I always enjoy her company on the rare times that we do get together.

Applying for an Aadhar Card:
     She dropped me off in her car close to the Bank and I was able to get back to it to meet the clerk who put me through the procedure. The documents I carried along were inspected and verified by an officer of the bank and I was asked to fill out a form. My picture was then taken and I was finger-printed and I was told that I would receive it in the mail in the next 8-12 days--hopefully before I leave. So, all the research I did online to try and find out how and where I could apply for an Aadhar card paid off. If I do get it before I leave, it will be fantastic. The Aadhar card is the Indian national identity card and I am very pleased and proud to be the holder of one as I have dual citizenship (American and Indian).

Off to Spend the Afternoon With Marianel:
     By the time I got out of the bank, the sky had darkened vilely and the threatened downpour appeared imminent. Instead of traipsing through the city museums as I had intended to do, I texted my friend Marianel and told her that if she was free, I would like to go to her place to kill some time as my next appointment in the city was at 6.00 pm. She was delighted to hear from me and told me that I was most welcome. So I hopped into a taxi and was at her place in 20 minutes.
     And not a minute too soon! It came crashing down and as I sat with her salmon cream cheese spread on crackers with a cold lemonade, the rain drummed on outside. We were just wondering whether or not, I should go or re-think my evening plans, when the rain stopped, just as suddenly as it had started. What was great was that Marianel said that she would accompany me as my friend Celia (who was supposed to come to town from Kurla) chickened out, due to the rain, and cancelled on me.

A Memorial Function at St. Xavier's College:
     It was not long before Marianel had a shower, got dressed and joined me in a cab to St. Xavier's College. I was headed to a function in the library to inaugurate the personal collection of the late Prof. Eunice de Souza who passed away exactly a year ago. As a tribute to her, her doting ex-students decided to have this small anniversary memorial function at the same time that the librarian Medha was able to collate and catalogue a cupboard full of books that had personally belonged to Eunice. As I did not graduate from St. Xavier's College (I was an Elphinstonian), I did not have Eunice as a professor--but I knew her as a colleague after I got my Masters and began teaching at Jai Hind College. The members of English Departments all over the city of Bombay were well known to each other as our circle was small and we would meet regularly at events at the British Council, the USIS, etc. That was how I knew Eunice. I was still in the States last year when I received the news of her sudden passing and I was glad that I happened to be in Bombay where this function is being held.
     A small section of the library was dedicated to this function that included about 75 alumni who had gathered together on a very wet evening indeed to pay tribute to a professor whom they clearly revered. There were a number of speeches and readings from her poetry, including a short tribute from the current head of the English Department, Pearl Pastakia (my Fulbright Fellowship Mentor and now friend) who also inaugurated the collection by cutting a ribbon that led to the cubicle in which the cupboard containing her books is kept. And what a shock I had to discover that this was the cubicle that had served as my Fulbright office! So I was the last individual occupant of this office space before it was turned over to become a dedicated space in which Eunice's personal library of books could repose forever. I thought this too was a most coincidental end to my Fulbright year in Bombay and my professional stint at St. Xavier's College. 
     There was tea with sandwiches and cake following the event and I had a chance, at this point, to meet a number of Eunice's former students. One of them (also a speaker of the evening), introduced himself as Russel and said that his mother used to be the Head of the English Department at St. Andrew's College. I guessed then that he was the son of my late friend, Prof. Lorna Barrett, who died a few years ago. Lorna and I used to meet on every single trip that I made to Bombay and I always found her such a lovely person--so I was really happy to meet her son.
      After the speeches ended, I went up and spoke to Russel and told him that I was his Mum's friend. He said he remembered my name well although he was much younger when Lorna and I used to meet. As it turned out, Russel who was present with his wife, Janice, then said that he was able to give me a ride to Bandra as he lived close by. I also met an old friend Mario Poppen with whom I had once studied French at the Alliance Francaise de Bombay. Mario and I too go back decades--it was he who shared a cab with Marianel and dropped her right to her doorstep.
        And so I got home in pouring rain, in the comfort of a car and in the company of young folks with whom I found so many other connections with other people with whom I have made contact during the past year. It was about 9.30 pm when I got home, called Dad to tell him I had reached home safely, and had a cup of soup with cheese, crackers and fruit (mango) before calling it a day.
    It had been an eventful and most productive day and I was absolutely delighted by its outcome.
     Until tomorrow...

Paperwork with Dad, Lunch with a Friend and a Quiet Rainy Evening at Home

Thursday, July 25, 2019
Bombay

Paperwork with Dad, Lunch with a Friend and a Quiet Rainy Evening at Home

     Namaste from Bombay!
     The days are flying and my calendar is filling up with lunch and dinner appointments with the many friends to whom I want to say Goodbye and Thank-You before I leave! But there is also concern about Dad's health and the outcome of Russel's next orthopedic visit scheduled a week from now. And, of course, I am still packing...
     But awake at 6.30 am, I blogged and listened to a bit more of my audio book (The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling). I had two important tasks I wanted to finish today: Send out the final application for a new grant and get Dad's dental implants paperwork done.
     But first....I had the biggest and best surprise! I discovered that one of my closest friends in Connecticut, Bonnie, has planned a 10-day package tour of the UK with her husband Art and will actually be in London at the same time that I will be there en route to the US. We have talked, for years--literally for years--about being in London together. And suddenly, purely by coincidence and without any planning, it is actually happening! How cool is that???!!!
     So naturally Bonnie had to chat with me and she called and we spent about a half hour on the phone going over options. Their package tour will whirl them around for about 10 days through England, Wales and Scotland, but they have given themselves two days in London on their own at the beginning and two days in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the end.
      Although I am fairly flexible, I do have my friend's birthday party to attend on Aug 17 in Connecticut--so I am slightly constrained. However, we figured out that we will have most of one day together in London before I will need to push off for Oxford to catch supper with my friends who will then depart the next morning for Bristol leaving their home to me for the next 3 days. And guess what? Bonnie and Art's tour will also bring them to Oxford! So we will have lunch and an afternoon there together too! I had to make a couple of slight adjustments with my own plans, but they were fairly easy to do. I am getting excited now although I have not yet had my ticket booked as I am still waiting to firm up my accommodation prospects in London.
    That call done, I was filled with excitement. What a glorious way to end my incredible year! At the start of my year, I had given a walking tour of Bombay to Bonnie and Art's daughter, Halle, who had arrived from the US for a wedding in Poona...and now I will be ending the year giving a walking tour of London to her parents! No marks for guessing that I will be giving them highlights tours of the National Gallery and the British Museum, including a pub lunch and Afternoon Tea and going walkabout a little bit through Leicester Square, Bloomsbury and King's Cross. Should be a blast! Not sure what we will do in Oxford, but I'm thinking a swift half at the White Horse Tavern, a favorite watering-hole of Inspector Morse and then Inspector Lewis, followed by lunch at the Turf Tavern where Bill Clinton was a regular might be in order before they are whisked off to the Cotswolds. Equally excited to be meeting the daughter of a dear late friend of mine whom I got to know first on Twitter. The daughter moved to Bicester, a few miles outside Oxford, a couple of years ago and my visit to the city of dreaming spires will finally give us a chance to meet after years of communicating on Twitter alone! I am so looking forward to this last spurt of travel activity--my last hurrah--before I return to the comfort of routine at home in the US.
     It was supposed to pour and so the lecture I was supposed to give at noon today at SNDT University was rescheduled to August 1. And what do you know? It was dry as the Kalahari dessert all morning! Not a drop in sight! I am told that nothing can be more wrong that Indian weather forecasts!!!! How is it possible for them not to get it right, considering the sophistication of modern-day instrumentation? Anyway, with the morning free, I called Dad and told him that I would go over to his place to complete the pending paperwork for his dental implants. And so, on cue, I was there by 11.00 am.
     Dad and I spent about an hour sorting through the questions that were posed, calling his dentist and talking to him on the phone for clarification and when we were all done, I had to scoot off to our photocopy man, Jay, to get the material photocopied for Dad's file. That done, I  texted my friend Patsy with whom I had lunch plans at the Bandra Gymkhana. She was ready to meet me there in 15 minutes.

Lunch with Patsy:
     Lunch with Patsy was a way of saying Bye and Ta. She is a very old friend and was one of the first folks I had met when trying to put together my list of potential interviewees for my Fulbright project. Patsy is extremely well connected, especially in Bandra, where she has lived her entire life and has been very much involved with the Arts and Culture scene. It was thanks to her that I was able to make such rapid headway with my calls for interviews and the huge amount of data I collected. I could not leave Bombay without meeting her one more time to say Thanks.
     Patsy had already arrived when I got there. Our time together was one long gab fest as we simply could not shut up. We had fresh lime sodas for drinks and ordered lunch keeping it as light as possible: Roast Chicken with Bell Peppers (which came with mashed potato and grilled vegetables) and a Chicken Caesar Salad which was delicious.We talked about the manner in which I had filled my year--the 80 interviews I completed, the numerous conferences at which I gave papers and keynote addresses, the immense amount of travel I undertook in India, Uzbekistan and South America. She, in turn, told me about her forthcoming travels to Austria, Slovenia and Croatia on a driving tour with girl friends from around the world. It sounded like so much fun! The predicted deluge which had caused my lecture to be cancelled started off with the most benign showers and ended just as suddenly as they had begun. I bet that when August 1 dawns, the day to which my lecture has been postponed, we will be drowned in torrents!
     After we said our Farewells with many kisses and tight hugs, Patsy and I parted company and I returned home to take a really long nap--more than an hour. When I awoke, I got down to sending off my grant application which took much longer than I had expected even though I had all my answers ready. But it was successfully filed online in the end.
     I was just about to get into the bath when it came crashing down again. I had a shower but decided not to go to church today as I had one more important thing to do. I needed to sit down with my calendar and make a petition for an Aadhar card to which I am now entitled as I have spent more than 6 months in India. Last week, I found out where I can get it done (in town at the Fort branch of Bank of Maharashtra). I am hoping to meet the person concerned tomorrow as I have to go into town for lunch with my Ph.D. mentor, Vrinda.
     Sitting and drafting the letter for the card that details my movements with dates in and out of India over the last one year took a while. I was glad I stayed home and focussed on it as it is a major step and I do not want to make multiple trips to the bank to get it done.
     And finally I confirmed that my money was transferred from my provident fund to my current account. The huge fire that occurred at the MTNL (Telephone Company) building last week has caused the break down of 22,000 landlines in Bandra--Dad and so many of my cousins are affected. Thankfully Dad has a mobile too and is managing with it. It has also affected computer and internet lines and so the transfer was done at another branch of my bank. But the saga has finally ended! 
     I also managed to get in a bit more of my packing and with all the time that I will be spending out in the next few days, I really ought to do as much of it as I can now. I am amazed at how many things I have to give away.
     Dinner was Valerie's new meal which was delivered today: chicken mince, paneer with peas, potatoes with spinach with one appam that Felcy had sent over for Dad and which he insisted I share with him! Dessert was a mango. I actually turned my fruit man away when he came calling at my door this afternoon as I do not want to buy anything more as my Operation Fridge Clean-up continues. While eating I watched a movie called Money Monster with George Clooney and Julia Roberts--while it started out well, it just dragged on and became almost farcical at the end. Julia Roberts was a study in the art of underplaying...she was so effective with such a sigh or a slight eye roll. Overall, however, it is not a movie I would recommend.
     I was asleep after 12 midnight as I spent a while listening to my audio book.
     Until tomorrow...
         


       

A Doctor's Visit for Dad and Lunch with Friends at Bandra Gymkhana

Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Bombay

A Doctor's Visit for Dad and Lunch with Friends at Bandra Gymkhana

     Namaste from Bombay!
     Today will be the start of my last week in my studio. With about 60% of my packing done, I am in good shape---but, no one is more aware than I am, that no matter how well you plan, the last-minute packing ALWAYS causes stress because there are some things that simply cannot be packed in advance.
     I blogged, had my breakfast (muesli and coffee) and listened to my audio book for an hour when I got a call from Dad telling me that at about 10.30 am, he started feeling that heaviness in his head again. He wondered whether I could accompany him to the doctor and, of course, I dropped everything and went to his place. A little later we were at the doctor's dispensary.
     The doctor did not find anything wrong, prima facie, with Dad. His heart beat and blood pressure were excellent, his motor reactions perfect. He believes it might be vertigo. He gave Dad his second shot in a series of multi-vitamin abd B Complex injections and told him to come once a week for the next 7 weeks to take the course. Dad and I returned home to his place.
     While Dad was chatting to the doctor, I got a call from my internet man, Subhash. I discussed the possibility of transferring my internet account to Dad's home and he told me that it could be done easily. He also told me that he has a man who does CCTV installation and he asked whether he could send him over to Dad's to survey the property. This conversation took a few minutes after which Dad was done with his doctor's visit and we made our way home. I dropped Dad home and walked immediately to the pharmacy to purchase the cough medication that the doctor also prescribed for Russel.
     On my way back, I ran into Gora's Aunt Kermaan whom we call Kakoo (which means Aunty). She was visiting Gora's place but when she stopped and asked me how Russel was doing, I invited her to visit him. She came over to Dad's place and was with Russel briefly--for about 10 minutes. It was so nice of her to make the time despite a very hectic schedule.  It amazes me how busy everyone is in Bombay.  Everyone seems to have so much going on in their lives at any given time. Its quite crazy.
     When Kakoo left, I left too and returned home to continue corresponding with folks in connection with my departure from here (Fulbright folks for my ticket, friends in London, Oxford,  etc.) I had about 20 minutes only before I had to hurry off for my lunch appointment.

Lunch with Friends at Bandra Gym:
     I had made plans to have lunch with my friends Jeevan and Liz from Worli who have been treating me to meals and inviting me to their home very frequently although we have met only very recently  Despite the constant rain--it has been a very wet few days--they were there before me (although I was not late).
     We made our way up to the restaurant where we settled down with drinks--a mojito for me, a diet coke for Liz and a vodka and soda for Jeevan. There was only a handful of other people in the place. It was great to see them and catch up with them as we ordered: Fettucine Chicken Alfredo, Rosemary Roast Chicken which came with Garlic bread, mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables and a Greek Salad. Liz passed on dessert but Jeevan had caramel custard and I had chocolate ice-cream with chocolate sauce. It is difficult to have a bad meal at the Bandra Gym where their catering outfit is second to none.
     To my delight, my friend Anil walked in to have a light lunch himself. I was delighted because I had thought of inviting him too! He excused himself and sat at another table as he had some important work to do while eating. But he did join us for dessert at the very end and we enjoyed a wonderful chat together. So overall, it turned out to be the best way to spend a very damp afternoon.
They dropped me back home but I did not do any more packing as I had work to do on my laptop.
     I did not even stop for a cup of tea as I got dressed and headed to Dad's place. I had forgotten but today is Wednesday and the novena precedes Mass. So I barely had about fifteen minutes to visit with them before I had to leave for church. Dad looked so much better and Russel was seated in the living room on his wheelchair which made me very happy.
     Mass was said by Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas, a well-known educationist and retired Principal of St. Xavier's College. His reflection was brief but meaningful and I am enjoying every one of the sessions of this feast novena to St. Anne. When it ended, one Mrs. Joseph dropped me off to my building and I got ready for dinner: the last of my tiffin from Valerie and the last of my salad from Candies with mango for dessert.
     I watched a bit of TV but was too sleepy to see an entire episode before I fell asleep.
     Until tomorrow...   

Dad Takes Ill and My Packing Continues

Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Bombay

Dad Takes Ill and My Packing Continues

     Namaste from Bombay!
     Truly, there is never a dull moment in my life! Just when it felt as if Dad looked much better, today, he took a turn for the worse. My day see-sawed as I tried to help him.
     But, first, I awoke at 6. 30 and went through my morning routine--blogging, reading The Times, listening to my book, breakfasting (muesli and coffee) while watching Joolz Guides to the Postal Museum and Secret Underground Railway in London. I was about to get going on my laptop with an important family assignment when I decided to call Dad to find out how he was doing. Rohit, his Man Friday, informed me that Dad was not well at all and was fast asleep. I instructed him to call me when Dad awoke.
     Within half an hour, Dad called to tell me that he was not feeling well, that his head was heavy and that he felt like throwing up. I volunteered to go with him to the doctor and so I dropped everything and left. I was in Dad's house in ten minutes and Dad was getting dressed to leave for the doctor when it suddenly occurred to him that his symptoms were probably the result of a coming vertigo attack (Dad has suffered from vertigo since he was in his 40s). He told me that he was going to take his vertigo tablets and go to sleep again and would go the doctor in the evening. I went along with his hunch and after ensuring that he (and Russel) were comfortable, I left his house.
     Back home, I continued with my assignment and worked steadily on it until lunch time. Before I stopped to eat, I corresponded with friends in the UK to let them know about my imminent plans to spend a few days in London and I was invited by my friend Sue in Oxford to spend a few days in her empty home as she and her partner will be in Bristol on the days I intend to get there. I also looked at flights back home with the Fulbright Travel Desk as they will be providing me with my return air ticket.
   I then stopped to eat the last of Valerie's meal: chicken curry with potatoes, gherkins and dal with one chapati and mango for dessert. I watched Come Dine With Me after a long time while eating. Soon after, I continued listening to my audio book and then took a short nap. But I was worried about Dad and simply could not sleep. Dad called me at about 3. 30 to tell me that he was feeling very much better.
     I then returned to my packing and made very good headway with it. There are a lot of things I will not be able to pack until the eve of my departure such as the clothes I need for the next week and the kitchen things I use daily. I also need to pack up the three things I bought after I arrived here: my Smart TV set, my microwave oven and my electric kettle. Thankfully, I kept the original boxes of all three items and intend to repack them and leave them at Dad's place after I depart. They will do well on his loft.  But I was very pleased with the progress I am making.
     I was plodding along when I got a call from the CCTV company that I had called in the morning as I am considering installing a CCTV system in Dad's apartment. Since I will be leaving for the States shortly and Dad is now too aged to manage the house on his own, I would like to keep abreast of what is going on at home at any given time through my Iphone and the CCTV system. The engineer called Sachin came to Dad's place, surveyed the apartment, answered all our questions regarding installation and left. His boss will give me an estimate tomorrow. The installation takes only a day but for us to be able to access the system, Dad will need to install an internet system in his house. This means that I will need to contact my internet man, Subhash, to find out how it can be done most economically. Dad will also need to buy a smart phone--he has a mobile but it is very basic--to enable him to access the house while he is out. This a project on which I shall now spend the next few days. But it will be a matter of great personal comfort for me to know that I will have visible access into Dad's home even while I am far away in the US.
     After Sachin left, I stayed and visited with Dad and Russel for a bit. Dad was much better. It was clearly an imminent attack of vertigo that he averted by taking the medication in a timely manner .He told me that he would go to the doctor tomorrow morning instead of this evening.
     As for me, just when I thought my saga with the bank was over, I was mistaken because, according to my online banking records, my money has not been transferred into my current account I will now need to make a trip to the bank to find out what the hitch is. Thankfully, it is only a few minutes' walk away and I know all the personnel there by now.
     I left for Mass which was said by Fr. Anil Rego from St. Francis of Assisi Church today as our Novena to St. Anne continues. It was a very good service, if really long, but I am now getting accustomed to these lengthy sessions. I walked home briskly and got down to dinner: Candies's salads and a cup of soup and more mango as I watched another episode of McCallum. Sadly, I kept falling asleep while in the middle of it, waking up, rewinding, watching and falling asleep again!!!
     Until tomorrow...
         

Writing an Article for a Guest Blog Column and Beginning to Pack

Monday, July 22, 2019
Bombay

Writing an Article for a Guest Blog Column and Beginning to Pack

     Namaste from Bombay!
     I did it! I actually hauled out my three suitcases (four, if you include my smaller stroller) and actually began packing up my little studio today. Sob! The time has come for me to leave this tiny haven of my own making and I am deeply sorry to depart.

Drafting a Guest Blog Column:
     But, first of all, the morning had to be grasped and after blogging, breakfasting (on muesli and coffee) and listening to a bit of my book (The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling), I got down to the writing of a guest blog column. This had been requested of me by Lavina Melvani of New York, a freelance journalist whom I follow on Twitter and whom I meet frequently at New York City events. A year ago, soon after I had arrived in Bombay, she had asked me to write a guest column for her blog called 'Lassi With Lavina' detailing my observations on living in Bombay after three decades. I figured that it made sense to wait until my year was out before I could really sink my teeth into the topic.
     And so, I spent the entire morning drafting the column and by lunch time, it was ready. I then stopped to stretch and eat: Valerie's meal of chicken curry with potatoes, gherkins and dal with one chappati with a fresh mango for dessert was simply perfect. After lunch, I sat listening to my book but I have this awful tendency to drop off while I am listening to something and lying down at the same time. By the time I awoke, I found it hard to find my place in the book, but it was time to go to the bank anyway.

The Saga Finally Ended:
     So finally, the saga that had begun last week when I had discovered at the bank that a public provident fund that I had started thirty years ago had matured and needed to be closed to the time I was able to finally get my funds released from the bank, ended. In the process, I went through the Kafka-esque corridors of Indian bureaucracy--from the municipal ward office in Bandra to the state marriage registrar's office in Khar--through the spiffy air-conditioned office in a high-rise apartment building of an attorney friend to the decrepit cottage of a Dickensian notary public in a tucked-away Bandra village that time forget. And so I was at my bank this afternoon, dealing with Jayant who surveyed the notarized affidavit I took to him and finally pronounced that everything was in order. He then passed on my file to another clerk who received instructions from him to change the name on the fund and then transfer them to my current accounts. Oh boy! Was I pleased that my mission was finally accomplished!

Finally Beginning my Packing!
     Back home, I began my packing. I hauled my three medium-sized suitcases and my small one (stroller) out of the balcony where they have reposed for the past 11 months and laid them out on my bed. I packed the stroller with the clothes I will need for London as it is my plan to spend one week in my favorite city en route to the US as a way of giving myself a little treat as well as breaking the vice-like hold that jetlag caused by the ten and a half hour difference can have on me. Let us hope that my accommodation arrangements work out--after which I shall plan my itinerary and visits with friends. Spending that week in London will, no doubt, soften for me, the deep wrench of leaving Dad and Russel after a year. I cannot even begin to imagine how wretched the parting will be after having spent one year so closely involved with their lives. 
     The packing took a good two hours as I judiciously divided the weight between three suitcases. The weight comes mainly from what seems like tons of research notes, interview jottings, programs, tickets and reviews of cultural programs I have seen, plus literature relating to the various conferences to which I was invited, etc.  I also kept aside a lot of clothes (mainly sleeveless summer dresses that I wore to church) to be left behind at Dad's. This will mean that I can bring fewer clothes with me when I return to Bombay on my usual winter visit in a few month's time.
     When a good portion of my packing was done, I stopped to go in for a shower and shampoo and then got dressed to spend the evening at Dad's before going off to the Novena and Mass. Dad was feeling much better and had just had a shower. He told me that the tiles in the new bathroom are not as skid-resistant as one would imagine and that the skid-proof bathmats are definitely needed. I stepped into the bathroom, took my sandals off and tested the wet floor for myself--only to find that Dad was right. Let us hope that Russel will cope okay when it comes time for him to use it.
     At 6.45, I left for church and was happy to find that our family friend, Fr. Austin Norris, was the guest celebrant for the Novena week. After Mass, I went off to the sacristy to meet him and chat with him and invite him over to Dad's for a visit--but he had already made other plans.
     As Dad needed me to pick up some medication for him, I stopped at the pharmacy on my way back and bought the tablets, then stopped off briefly at Dad's place to drop them off.
     A little while later, I was home (much later than usual as the novena followed by a full Mass with a sermon elongates the service) and ready for my dinner. I watched a whole episode of Wycliffe while eating a plate full of assorted salads from Candies, a cup of soup and a mango for dessert. I did not waste too much time in getting ready for bed and knocking off for the night.
     Until tomorrow...