London, UK: Our First Happening Day in my Favorite City: Crossing Wobbly (Millennium) Bridge; Walk Along the South Bank; Frida Kahlo at the Tate Modern; Pie and Mash Dinner at M. Manse; “Oliver The Musical” in the West End

Thursday, October 8, 2026

London, UK

Our First Happening Day in my Favorite City: Crossing Wobbly (Millennium) Bridge; Walk Along the South Bank; Frida Kahlo at the Tate Modern; Pie and Mash Dinner at M. Manse; “Oliver The Musical” in the West End

When Llew and I awoke this morning, we were in a British Airways aircraft, only a few hundred miles from London. It was nearing landing time (7.30 am) and, as we were awoken up with a filling snack, we felt ready to take on the challenge of going from Heathrow airport to our friend Bande Hasan’s place in Paddington.

Once outside the airport precincts, we followed the signs to the Uber stand and called for one. It arrived quite smoothly and took us to Paddington where we arrived at the ‘Devonshire’, our friend’s building at 9.30 am. He greeted us in the lobby of his building and, with the help of his doorman, we were able to take our cases up to his second floor flat. There, in one of his bedrooms, we stashed them away and settled down to steaming cups of cappuccino and a long catch-up chat as we were seeing him after one whole year.

But as we’d been on the red eye flight and did not have much shut eye, we were pleased to excuse ourselves, after a while, to take a short nap. But we set our phone alarms to 12 noon and after quick showers, we set out to salvage at least half our day.

On the Tube to St. Paul’s and Exploring the South Bank:

We left our friend’s flat and walked to Paddington Tube station from where we both replenished our oyster cards by filling it with a Travel card valid for unlimited travels on buses and Tube trains within zones 1 and 2 for a whole week. Once we had those in our possession, we took the Tube to get off at St. Paul’s Station. I have to say that it was super exciting to ride the Tube trains again; to figure out the direction in which we needed to move; to look at the passing ads in the sunken escalator wells; to arrive at the platform and then to board those familiar red, white and blue trains. It’s amazing how quickly someone who knows the drill gets back into the groove again and soon it feels as if you never left! We took the District line and arrived (after making a change) at our destination—St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Our First Glimpses of London on a Glorious Day:

vLondon sunned itself under benign blue skies as we took our first tentative steps into the city. St. Paul’s stood before us in all its magnificence. Once we got our bearings, we found our way to Wobbly Bridge as our destination was The Tate Modern Gallery where we had tickets for 2.30 pm to see the special exhibition on Frida Kahlo called “The Making of an Icon”. But even before we arrived there, just the act of walking along Millennium Bridge (which I generally think of as Wobbly Bridge—thanks to my former neighbor Tim who had once christening it so), was a real thrill. I stopped frequently to take pictures (but, of course!) as the Thames glistened below us and the far reaches of the city’s landmarks just waited to be recognized and picked out: the Shard, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, etc. We took our time walking over it, joined by hundreds of other people, all enjoying the exhilaration of a glorious autumn day in London. And yes, when we did get to the Tate (Modern), all we had to do was go through bag inspection at the entrance and then ride up to the upper floor where the special exhibition was being held. We showed our tickets at the entrance and in we went.

Visiting the Frida Kahlo Exhibition at the Tate Modern:

Frida Kahlo is one of those artists who has such a distinctive style that you simply cannot mistake any one of her paintings for someone else’s. She exemplifies the country from which she hailed, Mexico, with such a strong identity, thanks to her choice of colors (strong, vibrant), her use of motifs inspired by the clothing of her land (some of her own outfits are also on display), her religion (Roman Catholicism), the customs of her people (observation of the Day of the Dead, for instance, on November 2) and her travels. Like Rembrandt, she spent her artistic life undertaking many self-portraits and I think it is these works that help us piece together the person she was and into which she evolved. Of course, her marriage to the equally talented Diego Rivera, had a huge impact on her work as were the relationships she had with well-known figures such as the Russian Trotsky. Her canvases are characterized by a burst of color as well as a crowding of patterns and motifs as to make every single one of them seem very busy. But this is deliberate as they are reflections of her very busy mind and the number of impressions and sensations that she attempted to capture in each one of them. Yes, it is a fascinating exhibition and a wonderful retrospective of her work and Llew and I liked it very much indeed. It was worth every penny we paid for our tickets (purchased online) as while the rest of the Tate’s permanent collection is free, there is a ticket for special exhibitions.

Our exertions called for a coffee and the two of us went down to the café overlooking the river outside to have a café latte each before we decided to take a lovely long and leisurely walk along the South Bank towards Southwark.

A Walk Along the Souith Bank:

London’s South Bank from the Tate to Southwark Bridge provides a lot of interesting sights for the visitor. First, of course, there is the Tate itself. I did not have the time to take a look at any items in the permanent collection, but I intended to return again at my leisure. Next, you pass right by Shakespeare’s Globe Theater which give you the opportunity to take a look at their current season’s programs and find out if you are interested in attending any of the shows and booking tickets. We took a few pictures and walked right past.

The next spot you pass are the ruins of the former Cathedral where the Bishops of Winchester were once base. It is now in such a ruined state that only one wall with the frame of what used to be a stained glass window is seen. However, the floor of the Cathedral has been turned into an attractive garden. We went past it and arrived at the Clink Prison which is the site of an actual prison in Elizabeth times. It has been turned into a site of tourist interest but somehow the thought of seeing torture instruments is too gruesome to me—so I have never visited it. On we went till we reached a dry dock where ‘The Golden Hind’ can be seen. This is the ship that Sir Francis Drake used to circumnavigate the world in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It is amazing to us how well all these items are preserved and how much can be seen in a single, short walk.

If you go a little ahead, still along the South Embankment, you arrive at the famous Borough Market. This is the place that has soared in popularity as the years have passed by. When I lived in London, it only came to life on Saturdays when vendors would bring their produce from all over the counties close by to be sold—pies, cheese, olives, pickles, bread, preserves, vinegars, chocolates, pastries, etc. Well, with the tourist demand being so great and London’s tourist population having increased, I understand that there is now a market every day of the week—although not as thriving as the Saturday ones. So, yes, we could see trading going on. In the far section, there is fresh produce (Fruits, vegetables, wine, cheese). There are also usually generous ‘tasters’ (samplers) doled out, depending on when you arrive—most are given early in the day. We did not look for them or eat any as it was the end of the day and most vendors were packing up for the day.

We also had other plans: we wanted to eat a very traditional British dinner and it was there that we were next headed.

Pie and Mash Dinner at M. Manse:

In the days when this part of London (Southwark and the area close to Bermondsey) was inhabited mainly by a class of Londoners known as the Cockneys, the staple food of the region was Pie and Mash. There were several pie shops all over this area and since a pie and mash meal was very inexpensive and very nutritious, it was the food of the poor. There is only one place now in this part of London that is still a pie shop—M. Manse on Tower Bridge Road. And it was there that we wished to sample the food of a past century.

We hopped into a bus that took us fairly close to the venue and then walked a couple of blocks before we saw M. Manse across the street. There was a lovely lady inside who took our order—there isn’t much variety here. The menu is up on a board and the most popular items continues to be the Pie and Mash. Pie is always a beef mince pie and the mash is mashed potato. This is livened up with the addition of what is called Licour—it is a thick, pale green sauce that gets its flavor from Parsley. The lady who served us our platters told us to douse the whole thing with chill vinegar which was on the table—and a good thing she told us too. It was extremely bland and very tasteless without it. I don’t think we could have found it palatable without this condiment. For the more gastronomically adventurous, there were also Jellied Eels and Stewed Eels—this too is old-fashioned Cockney food and I had once tried Jellied Eels in a similar Pie Shop in Greenwich. However, I remember not liking them at all—too slimy in texture for my liking. What would have appealed to me were the old-fashioned Steamed Puddings—you don’t seem them very often these days (Jam Pudding, Lemon Curd Pudding and Syrup Pudding and Spotted Dick). Perhaps on another visit, I shall only order a pudding. Oh and there is Bread Pudding on the menu too. Another time…

The shop dates from 1892—the late Victorian Age. Its interior décor has not changed or been updated since then—which is what makes it historic and charming. The lady informed us that Dickens once lived very close by and was very familiar with the Cockney folk who then became characters in his novels. She also informed us that in Oliver Twist, Fagin’s den was probably in one of the lanes close-by and that Bill Sykes was murdered under the arches of London Bridge which was very close by.

I found all this literary history fascinating and such a coincidence! Because, by happy accident, we happened to have tickets that very evening for ‘Oliver: The Musical’ at the West End (at the John Gielgud Theater). So, just imagine, we’d be seeing the enactment of the murder of Bill Sykes in only a couple of hours! How coincidental was that!? Anyway, after we’d taken a bunch of pictures to immortalize our visit, we left. I had received information about this place from You Tube influencers—so I have little doubt that a lot of tourists come pouring in these days to eat these foods (not just the local people alone).

Bus and Tube to Our Theater Show:

Well, replete with our novel meal, we hopped into the bus that went across Tower Bridge and arrived on the opposite bank. From there (Tower Bridge Tube Station), we took a Tube to The Strand for our Theater show, ‘Oliver: The Musica’ which was on Shaftesbury Avenue. We got off at Piccadilly and walked, in the midst of hundreds of tourists, for night had fallen and the darkness brought more droves of tourists for a night on the town. Our show began at 7.30 pm at the John Gielgud Theater and we were well in time for it.

I cannot even begin to describe how much we enjoyed the show. For one thing, we were right in the first row! Can you even believe it? I mean, we could not possibly have had better seats! For another, the show was simply superb—such amazing acting, dancing, choreography, music, singing. We knew so many of the songs and felt greatly tempted to sing along: “Food, Glorious Food”; “You’ve Gotta Pick a Pocket or Two”; “Consider Yourself”; “I’ll Do Anything”; “Om Pah-pah”, etc. We just loved every minute of it. During the interval, we had chocolate ice-cream cups (another die-hard British theater tradition that we honor and love) and got up to stretch our legs.

One of the interesting things we noticed was that the conductor, who was standing in the pit just a few feet in front of us, was only pretending to conduct an orchestra There were no musicians in the Pit! The entire soundtrack had been recorded earlier and he was just pretending that there were live musicians down there! This was a first-time thing for both Llew and me and we were very surprised. But this strange phenomenon apart, we really loved every bit of the show and felt very glad that we had made a good choice.

On the Buses Back to Paddington:

We thought we’d take the Tube back and then we felt that we would see nothing, If we took a bus, we’d see London by night—the lights, the sound, the excitement. So, we jumped into a bus that sailed along Shaftesbury Avenue and went all the way to Marble Arch from where we crossed the street and took a connecting bus that went also Edgeware Road and all the way to Sussex Gardens where we got off and walked one block to our building. We had the keys and were able to let ourselves in—it was past 11.00 pm.

What amazing first day we’d had in London! And I can assure you, that based on the way I had planned it, very single one of them would be just as happening and just as much fun.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Fairfield, Connecticut: Attempting to attend a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Anthony’s Church; Meeting our New Realtor; Taking ‘Before’ Pictures of our Southport Home; Finishing the last Bits and Bobs of our Packing; Driving to JFK Airport and Leaving the USA

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Fairfield, Connecticut:

Attempting to attend a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Anthony’s Church; Meeting our New Realtor; Taking ‘Before’ Pictures of our Southport Home; Finishing the last Bits and Bobs of our Packing; Driving to JFK Airport and Leaving the USA

And so the day finally dawned when we’d be airborne again, winging away from the USA to the UK—fortunately, at the very end of the day. Our flight was at 6.00 pm (which left us the whole day to tie up loose ends).

Proposed Mass at St. Anthony’s Church:

I, a daily Mass-goer, could not believe that I had not yet visited my former parish church of St. Anthony of Padua at Fairfield. This was partly due to the fact that I was teaching online most mornings (hence, no chance to go for Morning Mass) and because we were on Long Island on Sunday at the home of our friends, John and Doreen. And so, I made a valiant attempt to get to the 7.30 am Mass this morning. As we no longer had a car, I resolved to walk there and to stop at the Gas station on my way back to pick up some breakfast and coffee for Llew and me, on my way back.

I really enjoyed the walk to the church—it was another lovely, perfect autumn morning, with a crisp nip in the air. It reminded me very much of the times when I used to leave for work in New York on such mornings in September and October, warmly clad in wool blazers and cashmere sweaters and with panty hose to keep me toasty. Well, today, too, I dressed comfortably and stopped en route to take some pictures of the rising sun across the Tide Mill River.

However, when I got to the church, I had a nasty shock. There was no morning Mass. It would appear that only Sunday Masses are now said at St. Anthony’s. I was disappointed but I walked around the property for old times’ sake and then walked to the gas station. There, I picked up muffins and coffees for Llew and me and walked back home.

Meeting our New Realtor:

After we’d munched on our breakfast and enjoyed our coffees, we got ready to across the fence to our own former home as we had a meeting scheduled with our new realtor from William-Raveis, Betsy Banks. She turned out to a very nice person (and someone I vaguely remember having met before although I cannot place her). I used the opportunity while there, to take a few pictures of our home. They would serve as the ‘Before’ pictures and would enable us to take ‘After’ ones after the entire ground floor of our home has been renovated.

Rawley’s for Hot Dog Lunches:

As it was close to lunch time, we decided to stroll across to Rawley’s, the famous Fairfield hot dog place where we ordered the hot dogs with The Works (ketchup, mustard, relish, sauerkraut) with Cokes. And, of course, since I’d already had a chocolate blizzard yesterday, I passed on another. It was simply time for us to go back home. Llew went across to meet our friend Tommy at the True Value hardware store, just a few steps down and when he was done, we set off for home.

Yes, I am happy to state that all our stuff fit into our suitcases without any difficulty and that weight-wise too, we were in good shape with at least a few kilograms left in each bag for us to stuff with a few buys in the UK. Since we had reserved Prime Time Shuttle seats on a van that would come and pick us up at 1.30 pm, we just had enough time to ring the bell of our lovely neighbors, Ken and Pui, to say Thanks and goodbye to them for so kindly permitting us to use the mother-in-law apartment attached to their property. Sadly, Ken was working in the city today and so we missed him—but we did have a chance to give Pui a last hug and to cuddle our favorite pooch, Gus for the last time before our departure.

Off to the Airport on the Shuttle:

And, much before schedule, the Shuttle did arrive but the driver acknowledged that he was early and told us that he would wait. When we ensured that we had taken care of all the last-minute items that one needs to worry about before leaving (emptying fridge, throwing away garbage, taking away all chargers--the most commonly left items in hotel rooms), we took a last photograph together in front of our home, entered the shuttle (there was one other couple inside) and were off. We were really relieved that we had returned our car yesterday and resolved to take the shuttle because that eliminated the hassle of filling gas en route to the airport and then returning our car at the airport before taking the monorail to our terminal.

It was a very pleasant ride to the airport. I felt sad that we were leaving the US (especially as we’d had such a good time and because the weather had been so perfect). But we were leaving with superb memories and most of the items on our To-Do List ticked off. The only thing we had to leave out was a visit to New Jersey to see our friends there. Hopefully, we will do that next year.

After making one stop in beautiful Greenwich (to pick up another passenger), we arrived at JFK Airport at just the right time for our departure , i.e. at 3.00 pm (our flight would leave at 6.00 pm). We went through all formalities, relieved to find that there was no issue with the weight of our bags. However, there was an issue with our seats. Even though we had booked our seats months ago, we found that we were bumped off the flight because British Airways had overbooked. They were downgrading us to Economy but we would have none of it. Llew asked to speak to the manager and after an assertive conversation with her, we were reinstated into our rightful seats. After clearing Immigration, we then made our way to the duty free shops where we browsed for a little bit before getting to our gate. Both of us made a few last-minute calls while waiting for our flight to be announced. It was on time and we had a very pleasant boarding experience.

A Very Pleasant Flight Across the Atlantic:

Both Llew and I were excited as he embarked on the third and final leg of his travels on this trip (while for me it would be the second leg). We’d be spending six days together in London and for me it is always a joy to be in London (my favorite city in the world).

The flight, being the red eye, was very pleasant indeed. We both finished watching ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ which we had both started on other flights. It is a childrens’ film but definitely appeals to adults as well. Dinner was served after the drinks trolley passed by. I had a glass of sparkling white wine while Llew had red wine. Dinner was a Beef Pie with a sweet potato topping and ratatouille. There was also a green salad with a bread roll and cheesecake for dessert. Indeed, a very satisfying and quite delicious meal too. Both of us managed to gain some shut eye on the flight and looked forward to what the morrow, our first day in London, would bring.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Fairfield, Connecticut A Lovely Long Walk in Southport, Chocolate Blizzards at Dairy Queen, Leaving our Winter Wardrobe Behind, Returning our Rental Car to Budget, Dinner with our Friends, The Deans

October 6, 2026

Fairfield, Connecticut

A Lovely Long Walk in Southport, Chocolate Blizzards at Dairy Queen, Leaving our Winter Wardrobe Behind, Returning our Rental Car to Budget, Dinner with our Friends, The Deans

Today was a day for doing all the things on my To-Do List that we have not got down to doing. So, after breakfast of Bagels and cream cheese (which we are trying to finish so that we clear out our fridge), I awaited the arrival of my friend Bonnie. And, on the appointed hour, there was her car.

An Amazingly Long Walk in Southport:

Bonnie and I had been walking companions for years. Every morning we took a different route and used the time to catch up on everything happening in our lives. This year, I could not believe that I had not even found the time for a daily morning walk. I have to say that this was partly because I was waking up very early in the morning to teach my private tutorial students in India as I was aware that I could continue with their sessions as long as I was in the US. Once I was in Europe, it would become impossible as the time difference would need me to teach in the afternoon (a time when I’d be up and about painting the city…) Hence, I did not lose the opportunity to teach them from the US.

Bonnie and I set off down Pequot Avenue. It was a lovely brisk Fall day, The weather was simply perfect for a walk that would bring us exercise but also the opportunity to do some photography. Both of us were dressed warmly and with my phone-camera in my pocket was all set.

It was great to walk through Southport Village when most of the shops were still closed. It is a very quiet, very peaceful place that seems not to have changed in a couple of centuries. Of course, businesses come and go, but the essential layout and character of the place have remained unchanged. Past the Post Office, we arrived at the Congregation Church and then past Trinity Church, we were at Pequot Library. At this point, we decided to go right and into neighboring Westport as that would elongate our walk just a little bit. I have walked this route countless times, over the years; Bonnie, not so often—so there was an element of novelty in it for her.

Just past the highway, there are pretty creeks where we saw our first glimpses of wild life. But, by the time, we entered Westport proper and were passing by the Audobon Property, what should we see but a really magnificent deer and that too quite close at hand. He was a stag as the magnificent pair of antlers upon him proclaimed. Naturally, I whipped out my camera and we took some really lovely shots of him. Then, we continued on until Southport Beach came into view. At this point, we saw a really spectacular egret—it was huge! Yes, egrets are common sea birds in these parts but this one was really special because of its size. And then, on we went until we actually came to Lond Island Sound and Southport’s beautiful beach. There we saw more flocks of aquatic birds—any number of noisy seagulls and smaller birds that I could not identify. They offered photo opportunities that I seized right away.

Just as we were walking along the beach promenade, I saw this massive collection of seashells that I believe I had never noticed before. There were just thousands of them all clustered together on the rocks. Of course, I had to stop to pick up several that I stuffed into the pockets of my down jacket and my hat! It was a truly unexpected sight, and I am sure I will enjoy displaying them at home in Bombay while also taking back a bit of my Southport Beach memories with me. There were also a number of mussel shells and some oyster shells and some golden iridescent ones and Bonie actually picked up a couple of whelks too. So, it really was a most rewarding haul.

Along Pequot Avenue we then progressed heading back toward home when we passed by an evergreen tree whose pinecones were strewn all around. So, of course, I had to stop there and get some really pretty pinecones too. I had already picked up quite a few cones from the pine trees in my own front garden—but these were of a different shape and form and I was keen to have them too. So, they became part of my Fall décor at home.

And finally, after a walk that took more than two hours, we arrived at Bonnie’s car, parked in the driveway of our home. We took a few parting pictures and she left, I told her that I would see her soon as I was finishing my packing and needed to leave some of our winter clothes (I leave a whole wardrobe in her basement) for our next arrival in these parts. This saves us the botheration of carrying warm clothes between Bombay and the US.

Dairy Queen for Blizzards:

When I returned home, I found that Llew had made good headway with our packing and with clearing up the fridge, closet, etc. We continued with the task at hand and worked steadily on our packing. I put aside the clothes I needed to leave at Bonnie’s and in a short time, we were there. We organized our clothes quite well in the large plastic storage units that I left at her place and also took away the silverware that we had left at her’s together with the wooden cabinet-drawer that contained them. With these things taken away, we’d have to find out if we had the weight allowance to accommodate them in our suitcases.

En route, as it was lunch time, we decided to stop at Dairy Queen on the Post Road to pick up our favorite Chocolate Blizzards—these would serve as lunch. And with that, some more items were ticked off our To-Eat List!

Back home, we actually had the time for a short nap—after absolute ages. We then woke up with the realization that we needed to return our rental car to the Budget place before 6.00 pm. We were there, pretty much on the button and handed the keys over to Faiyaz with the suggestion that he reviews the car to make sure everything was in order. He did so and we said Bye to him and were off.

Dinner at the Deans:

All that was left to end our day on a joyous note was to get to the home of our friends, the Deans—Jim and Virginia—in north Fairfield. Our friend Art had volunteered to drive us up to the Deans. He and Bonnie were then headed to a talk at Fairfield University and so could not also join us for dinner. He arrived in his car at the Budget parking lot and picked us up from there.

The evening passed by in a blur of happy friendship, interesting conversation and terrific food and drink. Virginia is a very dear friend and such a warm and lovely person that it is always a pleasure to spend time with her. In her sprawling and very interesting kitchen, we clustered around to have drinks and a couple of nibbles as Virginia continued to work on our meal. She had cooked everything herself and we were most impressed with her efforts.

Soon it was time to sit at the table where we were joined by Jim and a friend of theirs, who is also a neighbor. We enjoyed Virginia’s roast chicken, her Orzo with Broccoli and a green salad. The dessert was just stunning: a huge Coconut Vanilla Cake (Ina Garten’s recipe) that really stole the show. Yes, it was a really fun meal—sadly, a number of the friends we have in common that she had invited were unable to make it (for one reason or the other). So, it turned out to be a very intimate meal with people who are most generous and truly enjoy entertaining.

We were more than happy to call an Uber to get us home, but Jimmy insisted on dropping us off. And indeed, since they are familiar with the roads, the late hour (and the possibility of deer on the road) did not deter his speed. We were literally in our driveway within ten minutes!

And so our second-last day came to an end. It had been fruitful and we managed to do all the things we needed to accomplish—thus making our ten-day stay in the US most productive.

And on that happy note, we fell asleep, hoping to make the most of our last day in CT (on the morrow).

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Fairfield, Connecticut Getting a Colonoscopy, Spending a Day in New York City with a Dear Friend, Central Park Jaunt, Visit with my Ophthalmologist, Dinner with Our English Friends:

Monday, October 5, 2026

Fairfield, Connecticut and Manhattan, New York.

Getting a Colonoscopy, Spending a Day in New York City with a Dear Friend, Central Park Jaunt, Visit with my Ophthalmologist, Dinner with Our English Friends

I am grateful to say that all went well with Llew’s colonoscopy. After we’d washed and showered, we lost no time getting into the car. I drove him to Fairfield Circle for his procedure, dropped him off at the clinic and said Goodbye to him. When I next heard from him, I would return to pick him up, I was told it would take approximately 90 minutes.

Breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien:

I had an immediate plan then to have breakfast as the Harborview Market in Bridgeport which was only a five minute drive from the clinic. I love their almond croissants and I could easily see myself begin my day with one of them and a large coffee. But alas, when I reached there, they informed me that the croissants are only make at the weekends. I was disappointed and could well have eaten another one of their breakfasts—but it was an almond croissant I was after and I had the brainwave then to drove to Westport, Connecticut, where I had seen a branch of le Pain Quotidien had been opened. This is one of my favorite chain of European coffee shops and while I had one very close to my office at NYU, I used to go there quite frequently for one of their treats.

So breakfast was exactly as I imagined it to be: an almond croissant and a Belgian hot chocolate which I savored in a place that was empty. I was barely there for about half an hour when I got a call telling me that Llew was ready to be picked up. And so back I got into my car and fifteen minutes later, I was at the clinic, bringing him safely back home to relax and rest and take it very easy.

In, on the other, hand, had only one last doctor’s appointment on my plate—towards the end of the day (a visit to my ophthalmologist in Manhattan). Hence, I decided that I would take the train again into New York City. I left the car (in case Llew needed to use it during the day) and walked down Pequot Avenue to Southport Station. I felt exhilarated that I would be spending another entire day in Manhattan—until I would get back in time for us to return our rented car to the Budget place in Fairfield and find our way to our friends, the Thomsons’, for dinner. I had made plans with my friend, Susan Petralia, to meet her on the Upper West Side, where she had just moved.

On the Train to Manhattan and Meeting Susan:

I enjoyed the train ride and could not believe as I sat in the train that I had done this ride twice a week for over thirty years! And yet, it never got old! A whole ten days after we’d arrived in Connecticut, there was more color on the trees and the beauty of the drive made it very pleasant to merely look outside the window at the passing scenes as they brought back memories of so many happy years in these parts. How lucky, I thought, that we are still able to return here every year!

Once in the city, I hopped into the Subway and got off at Lincoln Center as my friend Susan’s apartment was right across the road from there. It was not long before I found her building and was sailing up in the elevator to her flat on the 34th Floor. Needless to say, we had a most affectionate reunion as I was seeing her after five years. She had moved down to Florida at the same time that I had moved to Bombay. Hence, ever though I have returned every year to New York, I never had the chance to meet her. Her husband’s new job in New York had brought them both to the city and they were absolutely delighted that they were in an apartment.

It was a cozy and compact but very lovely apartment that I would have given my right arm for—a few years ago when I had dreamed about living in the city after retiring and downsizing. Of course that did not happen, but I can live now vicariously through the lives of my friends who have realized different dreams too. Susan’s apartment offers astonishing views and after we’d had a coffee and a nibble (we’d had bagels with cream cheese and orange juice for breakfast—so I was ready for some sustenance) consisting of pizza and little dainty pastries, she took me up to her rooftop terrace. And I have to say that the views from there were just spectacular. We could see all the way to the Hudson and to the Bridges across it on one side and, over on the other side, guess what, we could see Lady Liberty herself, poised beautifully between two other skyscrapers. Meanwhile, just below us was Lincoln Center and Alice Tully Hall and the Julliard School and all the Performing Arts buildings that are icons in Manhattan. What a cool place in which to live!

A Walk Around the Neighborhood and Across Central Park:

It was not long before we decided to go outside because the weather was so perfect. It really was an extraordinarily gorgeous day in Manhattan and it made full sense to out and enjoy it. Accordingly, Susan, who kept referring to the area as a ‘neighborhood’ because she is so enchanted by it, pointed out the places at which they have already eaten and made favorite spots. And when we had entered a hardware store as I wanted to buy a bottle brush (which I found) and a shoe store (as she wanted to point out certain pairs that would look stylish but also work well for feet ridden with plantar fasciitis, we decided to make our way towards the Park.

And so, that was where we headed. In fact, we passed right by the ill-famed Dakota Building (the one in front of which Beatle John Lenon was shot). Naturally, we took pictures there before crossing Central Park West and entering the Park. This led us straight to what is called “Strawberry Fields”, the spot at which a memorial has been set up for Lenon. It has a large mosaic circle set into the ground with the word, “Imagine” inserted into it. Of course, there is always someone with a guitar at this spot singing Beatles’ songs—and I thought how marvelous to have left a musical legacy that transcends decades and generations. After taking a few pictures, we moved on.

For the next hour, we sauntered through Central Park, stopping every so often at the various landmarks that make up this grand and gorgeous space. We saw the Boating Pond, the Bethesda Fountain (which is currently under renovation), Shakespeare Walk (where Shakespeare in the Park is held each summer), etc. I took a lot of pictures of the various sculptures in the garden, each commemorating a different aspect of America’s history. Finally, when we reached the far end of the park, i.e. the East Side, we sat on a bench and ended our lovely day, promising that we could continue to chat regularly on the phone and stay in touch. I hugged and kissed Susan goodbye and crossed the street to get to my Ophthalmologist.

A Visit with my Ophthalmologist:

I have been under the care of Dr. Daniel Rossberger for the past four years. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with a compromised retina as I have an epithelial membrane on my retina—a natural result of ageing. Careful annual monitoring of the condition is recommended—which is why I make sure I see Dr, Rossberger each year He described my condition as stable and unchanged after scans, retinal dilation and the injection of a liquid dye to ensure that there is no bleeding. After about an hour, I was done and having made another appointment for next year, I was on my way back home.

Back on the Train to Southport:

I took the subway back to Grand Central Terminal and from there took the first train back to Connecticut. Llew was waiting for me at Southport Station and he picked me up and took me directly to our friends, the Thomsons—Diana and Jonathan—with whom we were having dinner. We arrived at their place in about fifteen minutes but had trouble finding a parking spot as well as their actual unit. However, they were very gracious about our late arrival (we did warn them that we would be later than expected) and sat down with drinks. Over a gin and tonic for me and wine for Llew, we had a companionable chat before it was time for dinner to be laid out on the table and the meal to be served.

It was a delicious meal as Diana is a superb chef. Every time we get to her place she tries out something wonderful for us. One time, it was bobotie—an African stew that was quite hearty. This time it was Hungarian Goulash, served with crusty bread and buttered cabbage. For dessert, there was ice-cream which we really did enjoy. It was a really lovely evening with a couple who told us about the imminent wedding of their son to an Indian girl in San Francisco. They were really quite thrilled with their new daughter-in-law and are looking forward to meeting her parents soon.

And on that happy note, our second last day in the USA came to an end. Llew was, fortunately, none the worse for his medical procedure, which left him feeling quite well and I had a bonus day in the city with a very dear friend, great weather, a glorious day in Central Park and a good overall bill of eye health from my doctor.

We drove home and decided to do nothing tomorrow except finish up our packing, weighing and getting ourselves ready for our departure.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Fairfield Connecticut and Stratford, Connecticut Preparing for a Colonoscopy; Shopping; Meeting a Friend for Tea in Stratford

Sunday, October 4, 2026:

Fairfield Connecticut and Stratford, Connecticut

Preparing for a Colonoscopy; Shopping; Meeting a Friend for Tea in Stratford

We awoke today on Long Island in the home of our friends, Doreen and John, in Syosset as we had spent the night with them after our bountiful diner at their place last night. And because we lazed and had a lie-in, an equally bountiful breakfast was awaiting us when we went down to the kitchen table. Doreen, John and Llew were chatting away by the time I joined them.

Breakfast with the Bellomos:

Breakfast was a vast buffet all laid out and kept ready for us. Homemade warm muffins just out of the oven; granola, sausages, cheese, preserves, coffee. It was a breakfast fit for a king and we ate well. But not wanting to linger too long as it was D-Day for Llew (the prep day before his colonoscopy tomorrow), he was keen for us to get going as we had medications to purchase from the CVS Pharmacy in Westport where his doctor had called the prescription in.

Off to Southport, Connecticut, with One Stop in Greenwich:

Again, with me behind the wheel and absolutely enjoying the sensation of driving on the Long Island highways, we made our way home. We made one swift stop in Greenwich, Connecticut, to pick up something I had left behind at our friend Swapna’s house yesterday after breakfast with her. Well, we did not stay long—a visit on horseback and off we went again.

En route, we stopped at the CVS in Westport from where Llew picked up the medications he needed as well as a large carton of apple juice (from Stop and Shop) as he would be on a strict clear liquid diet for the next 24 hours. As anyone who has had a colonoscopy knows, the medication involves very strong laxatives and so he needed to stay put at home for the rest of the day. I did not feel the need for lunch as my breakfast had been so substantial and Llew could not eat anything anyway. And so, I left him at home and went out to do some more shopping at TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Marshall where I love browsing for items that serendipity might throw up. I did pick up two red crystal glasses and was very pleased with them. They will look stunning during Christmas.

Tea with a Former Colleague from Fairfield University:

I had enough time then to drive u to Stratford to the home of my friend, Elizabeth Petrino who used to be my colleague at Fairfield University and became a close friend as the years went by. She had hoped to be able to meet us for dinner but when I explained how tight our schedule was, she settled for tea at her place with just me as Llew was out of commission for the day.

It was a lovely reunion as I had a chance to meet her, her husband Tom and hers son David, an engineering student at Fairfield University. Of course, when Liz and I meet, we simply chat our heads off as she is always so full of the exciting academic and research projects in which she is involved. David and Tom joined us at the dining table that was groaning with a variety of items that made a meal in itself: there was a magnificent raspberry strudel from a local farm stand, plus focaccia bread and cheese and cookies and pickles (that she was so keen I taste as they were also from the farm stand). Well, of course, everything was delectable and I could not resist eating all that was put before me.

But then, it was time to say goodbye (hopefully, until next year), to wish them all well and to promise to stay in touch via phone calls. So off I went in my car and in about twenty minutes, I was back home again. Llew had fared quite well in my absence as he continued to take his medication and drink his apple juice. I did not need to eat any dinner as I had eaten quite enough food all day, thank you!

We’d have an early-morning start with Llew’s colonoscopy scheduled for 8 am tomorrow—and so we made an early night of it as we ended another fruitful day.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Long Island, New York: A Break from Doctors and Medical Testing! Breakfast in Greenwich with a Dear Friend, Visits with a Recovering Friend in Manhasset and with Long-Lost Uni Classmates in Glen Cove, Lunch with Friends in Syosset, Outlet Shopping at Tanger and Dinner with More Friends!

Long Island, New York

Saturday, October 3, 2026:

A Break from Doctors and Medical Testing!

Breakfast in Greenwich with a Dear Friend, Visits with a Recovering Friend in Manhasset and with Long-Lost Uni Classmates in Glen Cove, Lunch with Friends in Syosset, Outlet Shopping at Tanger and Dinner with More Friends!

Today was a fabulously fun day! It was such a relief to take a break from unending doctors’ visits and clinical testing to spend a day entirely with friends and although it was a bit of a hike for us to get from Southport, Connecticut to Long Island, our friends made it fully worthwhile for us. Besides, as I have said often, I enjoy driving so much that I was really delighted to be able to do so for an extensive period of time on highways that are a real pleasure to navigate.

First Stop: Greenwich, Connecticut, for an Indian Breakfast:

It was a real joy to stop en route at Greenwich, Connecticut, for three reasons: we’d be meeting our friend Swapna again (her husband Rasik had, in a case of really bad timing, left just this morning for India—so we well and truly crossed each other); second, we’d have a chance to see their new home in Greenwich (they used to live in Fairfield which is where we first met them) and, thirdly, we could be sure of a really good breakfast at her place. Swapna is one of those sweet, warm, generous human beings who makes you feel like a million dollars when you meet her. Well, today, was no exception and she had a typically Indian breakfast awaiting us that, get this…she had woken up at the crack of dawn to make! We were most touched by her warmth and generosity. Typica Indian hospitality! It was idlis with sambhar and chutney and kala jamuns for dessert with lovely hot coffee. What’s more, I discovered that Swapna had glass milk bottles such as the ones I used to have when I lived in Connecticut and, of course, I felt a real urge to take two of them back home to Bombay--one for milk, another for cream. Swapna had an extra one and gave it to me, I would buy another from Whole Foods before I left so that I would take two glass bottles back to Bombay!

Of course, we did get the Grand Tour of their new home, and of course, and surveyed their lovely tiered garden. They are in such a quiet corner of Greenwich that it seems tucked away in the country. Of course, we spoke at length about our family members and caught up on all their doings and then much as we would have liked to stay longer, we had to leave as we were on a schedule as we would be having lunch with our friends in Syosset on Long Island. So off we went with me behind the wheel. Our next stop would be in Manhasset on Long Island.

Meeting a Close Friends After Ages:

I got to know about this dear friend, Jackie, recovering from lung cancer, only a few months ago. As I am fond of her and her son was once my student at Fairfield University, I resolved to make a stop at her place if ever I was on Long Island during any of our future trips to the US. So, when I told her that we were coming to the US, she immediately found a spot for us in our day to meet her.

Accordingly, we arrived at her place in Manhasset and had a brief but really fulfilling visit with her. We were so relieved to find out that her treatment has worked wonders and that she is so much better than we had expected. No, we did not stay long as we had another visit to make before we arrived at our friends’ for lunch. So, bidding her goodbye and wishing her all the best, we set off again for our next stop: Bar Frites in Glen Cove.

Meeting Long-Lost Uni Friends at Glen Cove:

One of the highlights of this visit to the US for me was meeting my long-lost friend, Julie Katz, after at least 25 years—maybe more. Julie and I used to be as thick as thieves when we were both grad students at St. John’s University in Queens, doing our DA in English, and taking our Comprehensive (Comps) exams together. We studied together, shared notes and research material, planned our study programs and the material we would cover. We spoke to each other on the phone (land line, mind you—in those days there were no I-phones), at least three times a day. And, yes, we did pass our exams together.

I went on to a blissfully happy academic career as a professor at NYU, but Julie chose to veer away from academia and entered the world of hi-tech, digital education. Her work took her all over the US and was varied and challenging and deeply fulfilling—not to mention lucrative. While I was aware, in the back of my mind of her work and her success, somehow, we lost touch (I am quite ashamed to say). It was only in recent times, thanks to Linked In and the fact that Lew found her on it, that we reconnected, exchanged a few email messages, spoke on the phone (long conversations) a few times and then resolved to meet when I arrived in the US.

Julie has been closely in touch with another one of the friends with whom I was also close, another SJU classmate, Linda Reesamn, who also earned her DA degree, stayed in an academic career at Queensboro College and is still teaching. I told her to bring Linda along to our meeting and I have to tell you that for the three of us, it was absolute joy to meet again after so long. Yes, as always happens with close friends who share bonds of deep affection, the years simply melted away and we were chattering away, with no discomfort or inhibitions whatsoever, as if we had met everyday over the past thirty years!

Bar Frites was crowded that Saturday morning with tons of people having lunch on a very warm Fall afternoon. Julie knows the staff there (she is apparently a regular) and we had superb service. Although they had started with drinks, I could murder for a cocktail (and having just returned from Italy), I quickly ordered a Negroni (delicious and super refreshing). Llew had a glass of Cabernet. The gals had also ordered lunch—but we merely nibbled as we knew that our friend Doreen had lunch awaiting us. There was ciabatta bread with the most wonderful spread (I would kill for that recipe) and it was hard to restrain ourselves from nibbling on it. There was also pizza and pasta and indeed since the occasion called for a feast, a feast was what we had. Needless to say, we took a whole load of pictures because we do not know when the three of us will be together again—it was important to immortalize the moments. Then, we bid each other goodbye and promised to stay in touch and not wait for another 25 years to get together. And on that promising note, we left.

Next Stop—Lunch in Syosset:

It took us another half hour to drive to Syosset but, as expected, our friends Doreen and John were waiting for us with a hearty and most delicious Italian lunch: Lasagne and a Caprese salad to which we did great justice. Needless to say, we were just delighted to see them again as the last time had been early this year in Bombay when they had visited India and made our home their base for a few days. We could not stop nattering as we ate, sipped and then started to make plans for the afternoon. They idea had been to do a wine tasting at a local vineyard…but those happened to be quite a long drive away and we began to consider closer possibilities. Finally, the plan was to go to Tanger Outlets (not too far away) as outlet shopping at Clinton Crossing in Connecticut had been on the cards for us!

Outlet Shopping at Tanger Outlets:

It was not even a half hour drive to Tanger Outlets. And oh what a blast we had as we shopped to our heart’s desire! Yes, there were some items on our shopping list (a new pair of sneakers for me—I bought a size larger from Nike and I’m glad I did as thy fit much more comfortably); Pine scented candle from Yankee Candle Company for the holidays, bags of Lindt dark chocolate truffles to give away as gifts in India, and, quite unexpectedly, a new pair of Birkenstocks for me—this was not on the cards as I never manage to find my size in the designs I Like—well, this time I was lucky and Birks at 50% discount is almost unheard of. So, how thrilled I was with the new pair. Llew bought a couple of clothing items and then we were done. I love outlet shopping in the States as the prices are always considerably lower than retail (unlike in the UK, where the outlet prices are almost on par with regular rates—I had been once to Bicester Outlets near Oxford and had been super disappointed—I did not buy a thing)! So, outlet shopping ticked off the To-Do List, we were able to get back home to Syosset for a really nice dinner.

Dinner with the Bellomos and the Walthers in Syosset:

Doreen and John had thought about all of us going off for dinner to a restaurant somewhere—but, on second thoughts, they decided to host a diner at their place and to invite our other friends, Alan and Anita Walther, to join us too. In the years when we lived in Connecticut, we’d often make a six-some as we partied together. It was, therefore, especially nice to be together again here in the Bellomos’ home.

Outside on their deck, we were able to enjoy their brand-new gas table-top fireplace which was especially welcome as the evenings are already pretty chilly here on the East Atlantic coast and we were grateful for the warmth. Doreen brought us a selection of nibbles but the piece de resistance was a magnificent tray of prawn cocktails that she brought out too. As we nibbled on a platter of antipasto (cheese, olives, charcuterie), we chatted companionably. Their backyard was the perfect outdoor space in which to enjoy a lovely evening. Later on, we went indoors to the living room and continued with the chatter while Doreen who is a hostess par excellence (as is John who made sure our glasses were kept full), busied herself in the kitchen and got the table organized.

Then, it was time to eat and Doreen outdid herself. There were all of Ina Garten’s show stoppers waiting to be devoured: Boeuf Bourguignon, Chicken Picata, Potato and Fennel Au Gratin, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, an abundant salad. Oh yes, we did eat well and had seconds too, but remembered to leave room for dessert: the Walthers had brought a wonderful Apple Crumb Pie which we devoured with French Vanilla Ice-Cream. As I relished all these generous meals, so thoughtfully presented by our friends, I have to say that the thought crossed my mind that the weighing scale would be completely out of whack by the time I returned to Bombay.

At the end of a really amazing day, Llew and I bid Doreen and John goodnight and went upstairs to our room as we were spending the night with them instead of driving back to Connecticut at that late hour. We were really grateful for their hospitality and looked forward to a well-earned night of slumber.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Fairfield, Connecticut Another Day Spent with Doctors, Some Food Shopping, Business Meetings, More Shopping and Dinner at the home of Close Friends

Friday, October 2, 2026

Fairfield, Connecticut

Another Day Spent with Doctors, Some Food Shopping, Business Meetings, More Shopping and Dinner at the home of Close Friends

Time is flying, but we are packing so much productivity into our days that we feel very satisfied at the end of each day. Breakfast was in our apartment—bagels with cream cheese and orange juice. And then our round of doctors’ visits began.

Pre-Colonoscopy Visit for Llew:

Our first port of call was at Fairfield Circle at Gastroenterologists of Fairfield County. I dropped Llew off there and ran a couple of errands across the road at the Circle Stop and Shop. When he called me back to tell me he was done, I went across to pick him up. After we heard what the pre-op prep involves, we had to cancel all our plans to meet our friends in New Jersey as those visits were scheduled for Sunday and Llew’s coloscopy procedure would be on Monday. Of course, we were really disappointed as we did want to see our friends and spend some chill time with them—but this was simply not meant to be. We called and cancelled all our appointments with them.

Off to Stratford for my Bone Density Test:

Our next port of call was Stratford, Connecticut, where I had my bone density test scheduled at Advanced Radiology. These drives turned out to be the most pleasant part of these visits as they took us into the prettiest parts of Fairfield such as Trumbull, Milford, Stratford, etc. where the color on the trees at this time of year is so spectacular. It took me back to all these years we had spent in these parts and how much we had enjoyed living here and seeing our doctors in all their various clinics. Truly, we are blessed to be able to come back once a year and we do make the most of every second.

My bone density test went well. I had a really competent technician who put me through the paces with courtesy and efficiency and before I knew it, it was done. No stress, no fuss, no fear. I will always come back here to get my medicals done (as long as I physically can and as far as it is possible through insurance).

Meeting with our Contractors:

Although I would have liked to have lingered in Target (which we passed on our way back), we had an appointment with our new home contractor and interior designer at our home on Pequot Avenue. Llew had met both of them previously, last week, but I would be meeting them for the first time and it was interesting. They were both nice guys and as they put us through the paces, going from room to room on the ground floor of our home to tell us what was involved in the job, we received a possible timeline for start and completion of the project. At the end of it, after we’d asked all the questions we wanted, we were far more confident. We think we will enjoy working with these guys who will stick to a budget and give us a brand-new ground floor which should make it very attractive for us to find new tenants for our home in the spring.

Shopping in Southport Village:

Llew returned home to our apartment at this point, but I took the car and told him that I would like to spend a couple of hours in Southport Village and so, left to my own resources, I went first to the Pequot Library. Sadly, my friend Leslie was not there but Christine was; and I spent a few minutes with her. I also went downstairs to our basement sorting room for old times’ sake and there I met my buddy Linda (who used to sort the cookbooks with me)—she still does. It was truly good to be back there again and I was so glad I went.

On the way back, I stopped at some of the stores that I used to frequent in Southport Village—Kasson Jewelers, The Carousel Thrift Store at the Congregation Church (I actually bought back the same Chinese soup bowls that I donated two years ago) and a couple of other fall decorative items that are light enough for me to carry to decorate my flat in Bombay for the season. I also stopped in the Fairfield Womens’ Exchange and browsed at their exclusive collection there before I went into their antiques’ section at the back. When I think of the number of things I have bought from these stores, over the decades they could fill another store—honestly! Still, this time I was being very choosy and I bought almost nothing. I also went to the Goodwill at Westport to look for fall décor and I did find a few trinkets—nothing grand, but I was pleased with my buys. I felt I had done some of my favorite things in Southport and Westport.

Back to Dr. K’s for Bloodwork:

We had a salad at home before I had to go to Dr. K’s clinic right next to the Cricle Stop and Shop to get some blood and urine tests done. Jody was just wonderful as was Dr. K. I also used to opportunity to go to Stop and Shop and buy a few more items that I do not get easily in India (olives in oil, yeast, parchment paper for baking, etc.).

Dinner with Art, Bonnie, Halle, Anthony and Little Calvin:

And then, it was time for us to go back home and get dressed for our evening’s dinner appointment. Our friends Bonnie and Art had invited us to dinner at their place and because I am closely in touch with Bonnie all year round, I was keen to meet her new grandson, Calvin. She very kindly invited her daughter Halle, her son-in-law Anthony and Calvin to her home too on the same evening so that we could all meet. So we were really thrilled to see them all when we entered Bonnie’s place.

And, needless to say, Calvin is just adorable—so I could see why Bonnie and Art are so excited about this new addition to their family. We amused ourselves fully with Calvin who kept us fully amused and entertained with his antics as he crawled around at speed, had his own dinner, played with his favorite toy, etc. It was also great to see his parents, Halle and Anthony, whom I had last seen at their wedding, two years ago. How wonderful to see what doting parents they are and how proud they are of their gorgeous baby boy!

Bonnie provided us with drinks and many nibbles on which we grazed as the evening passed. Then, Art stepped outside, on the deck, to grill us some steaks and he brought them inside in time for our dinner. Bonnie had also made a vegetable Tian and a superb salad and for dessert, there was a strawberry-rhubarb pie with ice-cream. Bonnie’s table was beautifully decorated and with all of us (and Calvin) seated around the table, we had such a companionable evening. It is amazing how quickly and easily time passes when you are among friends with whom you do not have to worry about what you say or how to say it. That level of comfort which comes from long cherished friendships is such a vital part of my life that I am always conscious and very grateful of this blessing in my life.

And, on that happy note, with Calvin and his parents having to return back to Brooklyn where they live, we bid our friends goodbye and thanked them profusely for treating us to such a lovely evening, for taking so much trouble to give us such a good time. It was truly an evening to cherish with so many happy memories stored for the future. We do not know when we will see Calvin again but no doubt, he will be unrecognizable, even if we see him just a year from now.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…