Thursday, October 2, 2025

Fairfield, Connecticut

Dental Visits Today followed by Lunch at Shake Shack and Italian Dinner at Vazzy’s with Friends

Our days in Fairfield seem to have fallen into a neat pattern: early wake-ups, hasty breakfasts (mostly toasted bagels with cream cheese and decaff coffee at Swapna’s), followed by doctor’s appointments, lunch, more doctor’s visits and dinner with friends. Today was no different.

Off to See my Dentist:

As in the case of all my doctors, so too with my dentist—I have been in the care of the good folks at Fairfield Dental Arts for at least 20 years. Now that I am in the USA only once a year, I have the luxury of a professional dental deep cleaning only once a year (as opposed to every six months). Still, something is better than nothing and it was with eagerness that I arrived at the Fairfield Office of my dental practitioners at 9.30 am for my appointment with hygienist, Tanya. After the cleaning was done (manually, as I find the jets of water too harsh for my sensitive teeth), she brings in Dr. Jessamyn Fiorella, who then does a thorough examination, studies my annual X-rays and gives me her verdict. This year, there was no cause for concern and I was able to leave the office with my goodie bag of travel-size toothpaste tubes, dental floss and a toothbrush. I took a look at the Reception before I left to ensure I had no balance to pay and was off. I had dropped Llew off at Stop and Shop to pick up a few items that we usually take back from here (deodorant and baking parchment paper, for instance) and then with him arriving to pick me up, we drove to his dentist in the same complex, Dr. Kosha Shah. While Llew was there, I browsed around the shops in Marshalls but did not really pick up anything except for a set of Brookstone’s travel set of cubes and envelopes to make up a set of six which was on sale. As I had intended to buy this, snatched them up.

Lunch at Shake Shack:

With our dental appointments done, we tried to meet our Financial Adviser, Chris, as Charles Schwab, but he happened to be in a long-ish meeting and would not be able to see us right away. Instead, we drove off to Shake Shack in nearby Westport to have lunch. Both of us chose the Shack Stack Burger which I particularly love, not just for the unique Shack sauce that they serve up (I always ask for extra on the side) but for the hot, pickled, roasted, red peppers that they chop finely and add to the burger as a garnish. In my opinion, this is what makes Shake Shack burgers simply my favorite one among all the chains.

Home for a Bit of Rest Before Dinner with Friends:

It was good to have a little extra time to return home and get in a nap before it was time for us to meet our friends at Vazzy’s in Bridgeport for an Italian dinner. With naps and showers out of the ways, we got dressed and made our way to Bridgeport, the venue chosen by my friend, Delyse who would be meeting us there for dinner with her husband, Marcus.

After what seemed like a long-ish drive through narrow country lanes, we arrived at the spot, chose a table and waited for about 15 minutes before our friends arrived. The evening flew by as we ordered the most delectable Lobster Bisque for starters and then a bacon, goat cheese and arugula pizza to follow. Little did we realize how sizeable our bowls of bisque would be (or how scrumps). We thoroughly enjoyed the starters but were already too full even to look at the pizza. But, of course, eat it we did (and it was rather good too). Best of all, we enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with our friends, to savor their company and to find out all they’ve been doing and will be doing in the near future.

And, on that satisfying note, another day in Fairfield came to a close. As in the case of the others, it had been productive and fun-filled day, in equal measure.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Fairfield, Connecticut

Still More Doctors’ Appointments and an Evening with Family Members:

Today was far from exciting as all it involved were doctors’ appointments in Fairfield, Connecticut, starting at the crack of dawn. It ended, however, on a lovely note with a superb evening at my brother’s home and a delicious home-cooked meal there.

Blood Work at Quest Diagnostics:

Both Llew and I had blood work to be carried out at Quest Diagnostics on the Post Road in Fairfield, on behalf of our Primary Care Physician who needed them to do an accurate assessment of the state of our health as part of our annual physicals. We had them done and left for a spot of shopping for breakfast goodies. I bought a pistachio muffin and Llew picked up a bagel from Stop and Shop en route home.

Llew Sees His Cardiologist After Breakfast and I Do Some Shopping:

Back home, we found that Swapna had already begun working from home for the day. We ate our breakfast and then got ready for Llew’s next appointment—this time with his cardiologist, Dr. Ari Pollack in Fairfield. I drove him there for his 10.00 am appointment and then drove the car off for a spot of shopping at the Carousel, the thrift shop in Southport, where I always find superb bargains in vintage jewelry. To my delight, I was not disappointed. In fact, I found a superb Murano glass necklace by the designing sisters, Susanna and Marina Sent, that retails online for $350. I snagged it for just $4. Hey, you can’t beat that kind of bargain. I also got a pair of vintage ear-rings and a black pearl necklace with gold highlights. Shopping for jewelry in this place is one of my great joys.

I also used my time in Southport Village well. I popped into Latimer House to see the owners, Chris and Parker, as I also wanted to buy some of their superb masks—I had discovered them during Covid and found them to be simply the best masks in the world. They retail at a sharp $20 each but they are worth every penny. Sadly, they did not have any more of them! Bummer! I so need them in Bombay with its awful air and dust pollution—they have been my defense through a really challenging year of keeping away throat and chest ailments.

In their shop, I ran into an old friend (pun intended)—not only is Butzi Moffit one of my oldest friends in Southport (I got to know her about 40 years ago when we moved into the neighborhood and her daughter Maggie was my next-door neighbor), but she is also one of the oldest people I know—at 95 years old. Butzi was also a fellow-docent with me at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in that regard, we have a lot in common. Butzi now has a full-time care-giver called Loulou who walks with her in the neighborhood and brings her to the library. She also made her way into the shop where I had the pleasure of meeting her again and taking photographs with her. Butzi is a walking lesson in how to be glamorous when well into your 90s. She was wearing a very colorful outfit and a very snazzy hat and truly looked like a million dollars. I so enjoyed my stop with these old friends for I visited at length with Chris and Parker whom I have also known for decades.

Finally, I made my way into the Pequot Library, one of my favorite places on earth. This was where Llew and I used to volunteer for about 40 years. As soon as I walked into the Library, I noticed that there was an Art exhibition being set up in the auditorium. I spent about twenty minutes taking in the wonderful exhibition that included a range of oils on canvas as well as watercolors that were done by a woman from Connecticut whose family had all her work stashed in their attic. I had a chance to speak to her grand-daughter but I do not remember her name. She informed me that the exhibition was a way of selling some of her work and honoring her, posthumously, at the same time.

Then, I stepped down into the basement, where most of our volunteer work had been done. There I met some of our old friends such as Dough Freid as well as some of the full-time employees of the library. I was also delighted to meet Nelson North who has taken over as Acting Director of the Library in place of the lovely Stephanie Coakley who recently resigned from her position as Director. We too visited with him for a little while and then it was time for me to race off.

I picked Llew up from his appointment and the two of us set off for lunch.

Lunch at Shake Shack:

With my visiting in Southport Village done, Llew and I decided to have lunch at an old favorite haunt of mine—Shake Shack. Of all the burgers I have ever eaten, I believe their’s to be the best: apart from their magic secret sauce that I really love, they use chopped, hot, pickled, red peppers that give the burgers a real zing. I was too full to also include their amazing Chocolate Milk Shake with my order, but I really did enjoy the burger. What a simple but delicious lunch it was!

Two More Doctor’s Appointment for Me First and Then, Llew:

With our lunch enjoyed, I was dropped off at the office of my Primary Care Physician, whom I was seeing for the first time (as our previous one had retired and we needed a new doctor). Dr. Catherine Kumaradas was very sweet and asked me all the right questions as she went through the results of my various tests of the past few days with me. I did not get very heartening news from her but as she assured me that there is probably nothing to worry about (although we will monitor the progress of these findings very carefully), I left her office and returned to Llew who had taken the car away himself and came back to pick me up.

I then dropped Llew off, once again, to another cardiologist, also in the Brick Walk (where, by the way, it is getting impossible to find parking) for another routine check-up. I then spent the time while he was being examined, to browse through the offerings at Marshall. I was particularly looking for hand wash and body lotion in a caddy or carriage in the same scent family. These used to be very easy to find, but this time, there was nothing that struck my fancy.

I decided to also look at T J Maxx, but there too I drew a blank. Finally, the only place left that I could look at was Home Goods and I was disappointed there too. The items I sought were simply impossible to find on this visit. Oh well…perhaps next year.

A Lovely Evening in My Brother’s Home:

All that was left was to get back home to freshen up, change into a nicer set of clothes, pick up the gifts we had carried from India, the UK and the USA for my brother Roger and his family, as we made our way to his place. We were running a bit late as we had too many things to try to fit into before we arrived there. We were sorry that his daughter Anaya was out for the evening and that his son Arav was away at Uni. Still, as an adult evening, it was a lovely one. We started off with drinks (wine for Llew, a G&T for me) and a range of nibbles before we adjourned to the dining table for one of Lalita’s home-cooked dinners: Spaghetti Bolognese with a Green Salad and Garlic Bread. We chatted about a vast variety of things and did a lot of catching up before dessert was served and it was time for us to say our Goodbyes.

Indeed, it had been a very packed day—as all our days in Fairfield were. We drove away and arrived at Swapna’s place at well past 10.00 pm. Where on earth did the day fly?

Until tomorrow…see ya’…

More Medical Appointments and Delightful Lunch and Dinner with Close Friends in Fairfield, Connecticut

Monday, September 29, 2025

Fairfield, Connecticut

More Medical Appointments and Delightful Lunch and Dinner with Close Friends:

I started my day early—I had a 7.30 am appointment in Wilton, Connecticut, at Hartford Healthcare on Danbury Road for a Coronary Calcium Score. This has been ordered by my endocrinologist, Dr. Glenn Rich. It’s a good thing I had full confidence again in my driving skills as I took the car alone and left Llew to have a longer lie-in. The streets were a delight to drive along as Fall is definitely in the air, there is a crisp nip to it with some warm autumnal color already on the trees. I used my Google maps to take me to my destination and found it very easily.

A Doctor’s Appointment in Wilton:

As this is the first time I was taking such a test, I did not know what to expect: turns out it was a screening (similar to an MRI but a little less lengthy or complicated). I had the expertise of a really sweet technician who guided me through the moves and took me into the room where the test was carried out. These tests, fortunately, do not freak me out. I am able to relax fully and it was over in about ten minutes.

Thrift Store Shopping is Thrown In:

I had about a half hour before I could make my way to Fairfield, Connecticut, for my next doctor’s appointment: with my gynecologist, Dr. Sapna Tandon. Instead of merely sitting in her office, I happened to be passing by Goodwill in Westport and decided to nip in there and see if there was something that would catch my fancy. So for the next half hour I browsed but was not much heartened.

A Second Doctor’s Appointment: with my Gynecologist:

Like all women, I dread this doctor’s visit but, of course, it has to be done. I have known Dr. Sapna Tandon for about 25 years now. I became her patient, 25 years ago, when she was at the infancy of her medical career—this makes me one of her oldest patients. We know each other well and I feel very free and relaxed in her company and in her care. The examination was carried out quite easily and I was relieved when it was over. Results would be posted on My Chart and, if there were any issues to be further investigated, I would hear again from the doctor.

I then left the parking lot and drove back to Sapna’s place to pick up Llew who had his Diagnostics appointment (and mine) scheduled one behind the other at Quest Diagnostics. I did the driving and we arrived at 12 noon on time for our appointments. Mine went off smoothy (Blood tests, also for Dr Glenn Rich for determining Thyroid levels as well as calcium counts as in bone density tests). Llew, however, faced a glitch as the office had not received his doctor’s order. He tried to get to the doctor’s office (fortunately, in the same building) but though they gave him the order and he brought it up, it still could not be carried out because of some technical issue. He would need to return after seeing the doctor, later this afternoon.

Lunch with Friends at Gruel Britannia:

After a morning devoted to doctors and facing some disappointments, it was great to look forward to a wonderful luncheon with some of our dearest friends: Virginia Dean and Cheryl Carlisemo, who had served with me on the Meet The Author Committee at the Pequot Library. They selected one of my favorite eateries in Fairfield, Gruel Britannia, the very pub-like place, where the menu is essentially British. Our friends were already at a table when we entered, We had a raucous reunion with warm hugs and big kisses before we sat down to order.

Well, the food at this place is just superlative: portions are humongous and the grub is tasty, let me assure you. I ordered the Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy, Llew had a Pulled Pork Burger with a small salad, Virginia had the Mushrooms on Toast with a Poached Egg to top it and Cheryl had the Turkey Meatballs. Everything was scrumps! Oh and that includes the conversation. We had the best time as we gabbed non-stop with our friends who told us all about their current projects, caught us up on the doings of our many mutual friends and inquired about our own lives in Bombay and the health of our family members (Dad and my brother, Russel). Yes, the time we had with them passed too fast but every second was enjoyable.

Llew’s Cardiologist Appointment and My Shopping Spree at Marshalls:

Llew had his appointment with a cardiologist next. Luckily, it was right in Fairfield and I was able to drop him there and then scoot off for some retail therapy. I went first to DSW to look for open sandals—alas, we are long past sandal weather on the US East Coast and nothing was available. I then entered Marshall’s where I particularly needed to buy a large suitcase to accommodate all the items we had to take back from the US to India. I did a reccy and then, when I received a call from Llew, telling me that he was done, I drove off to pick him up. We had time to spare—so headed back to Marshall, so that he could look at the suitcase possibilities too. We did zero in on two: one Samnsonite and one London Fog that would meet our needs and decided to take both home with us. We needed to fit one of our existing suitcases into the new one but as we were not sure of size, we bought both. We would return the one that did not work for us.

With that big chore undertaken, we could carry on towards the next item on our agenda.

A Quick Private Visit with our Friends, Bonnie and Art:

Our visit to Fairfield was so short this year that we felt hurried everywhere we went. My dear friend Bonnie had organized a reunion of my Book Club friends at a nearby restaurant; but because I knew I would not have private time with her, she invited Llew and me over to her place to have a drink and some nibbles with her and her husband, Art, before we all drove over for dinner.

It was great being in their home again and enjoying their hospitality. Bonnie had a few nibbles set out and Llew joined Art in a glass of wine. We did not have the time to take a look at the items that they are holding for us in their basement and so we resolved to return to them tomorrow to make our selection. We took separate cars so that we could leave right after dinner.

Dinner at Sonia’s with my Book Club Members and Their Spouses:

It is always a pleasure to go out for dinner with my Book Club friends. Sadly, two couples had to drop out (Amy and Mary-Jo and their spouses) as work schedules were crazy for them and they were unable to join us. Three other couples were present in addition to Llew and me. We found Sonia’s to be a most magical place—it is an Italian restaurant (my favorite kind) based on hearty Tuscan cuisine. We ordered two appetizers for the table: fried calamari and arancini, which we enjoyed with drinks (wine, mostly). Next, each of us ordered an entrée. These ranged from Seafood Gnocchi with Spaghetti, Grilled Sea Bass, Chicken Parmigiana, Seafood Risotto, Grilled Shrimp and Scallops with Risotto and Osso Bucco. And for dessert, we had tartuffo in three different flavors for the table to share. Oh, what a splendid meal it was! And how fun was our chatter! Indeed, we had a fabulous evening together and were sorry it came to an end when it did. Although briefly, I was really glad that Llew and I were able to get together with some of our friends in Fairfield.

And, on that happy and very full note, we called it a night.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Our Last Day in Fairfield, Connecticut: Our Kind of Terrific Day at New Haven.

Friday, August 30, 2024

Our Last Day in Fairfield, Connecticut: Our Kind of Terrific Day at New Haven.

We had a dream day together—at least we had a dream morning—just Llew and me—as we made the absolute most of our last day in Fairfield, Connecticut. Tomorrow, we fly to Canada, for the start of Phase Four of our Great North American Adventure.

Breakfast at IHOP in Orange, Connecticut:

We left Mary-Lauren’s place early, after I looked up Google and found out that IHOP in Orange, Connecticut, is still open. It took us about a half hour to get there, but get there we did, when it was still fairly empty. I absolutely LOVE eating breakfast at IHOP as I believe they offer the best breakfasts in the world at the most reasonable prices.

We sat ourselves down and scanned the menu when I had my first disappointment. The Rooty-Tooty Fresh and Fruity Pancakes that I used to adore at this place are no longer on the menu. A quick word with the waitress confirmed that they have taken all items containing nuts off their menu! To me this is plain, NUTS!!! The reason I loved those pancakes so much was because they were so superbly nutty-flavored as they were studded with chopped nuts that brought amazing flavor and texture. Anyway, I had to settle for waffles with strawberry compote and pecan-flavored syrup. The waitress was good enough to try to appease my disappointment by bringing me extra hefty servings of the strawberry compost, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and syrup and I have to tell you, I had a real party going on my plate! It was tremendous and the perfect last breakfast in the USA for me. Llew had his usual: two eggs with sausage, bacon, pancakes and hash browns and his serving was enormous and delicious too. We had a lovely companionable breakfast as we thought and talked about the years that we have been coming to this place for breakfast with various friends and guests and the many times we have really and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here.

Off to New Haven for a Touch of Anglophilia:

One of my other favorite things to do in Fairfield County is to walk in the university town of New Haven, home of Yale University, I love it for many reasons: the architecture, first of all, is just wonderfully reminiscent for me of the English university towns of Oxford and Cambridge—so I get my Neo-Gothic fix when I am here. The second reason is that it has the most glorious book shops and as Llew and I never pass a book shop without going inside, well, we have loads of browsing opportunities when in this town. Thirdly, I love the gentle, youthful ambience of this town which is always full of students and the intellectual air they bring to the place.

So, we began with parking our car on the main road (at Church Street) just outside Atticus Bookshop and the two museums. And then our walk began as we strolled under the Bridge of Sighs and went on towards Harkness Tower. My camera worked overtime as I kept clicking all the beautiful architectural masterpieces of the college before we entered the Green and took in the different architectural styles of the many buildings around the periphery. We also passed by the famous Sterling Library, entered the Grey Matter Book store to browse in there, then made a lovely loop and returned to our car. I am just delighted that we managed to squeeze in a visit to Yale as the new academic year had just begun, ‘Welcome to Yale’ signs were everywhere and you could sense the enthusiasm of the freshers who were still making friends and getting to know each other as they moved between classes. It took me back to my own years as a university grad student and then to the many decades I spent teaching these young folks as a university professor. While I had loved every second of it all, I have to admit that I do not miss it one bit and am really happy to be retired and free to simply enjoy every moment that life now presents me.

A Visit to Yale University Art Gallery:

Our first stop, once we crossed the street, was the Yale Center for British Art…but, to our disappointment, it was closed. This is always my first place of call and, as a result, I always end up spending a lot of time here and tiring myself out. This time, since it was closed for renovation, we had no choice but to enter the Yale University Art Gallery, just across the road, which turned out to be a real revelation for me. We began by looking at a section of the Ishtaar Gates, originally in Babylon, the entire Processional Way of which is now in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, where I had seen it. Here, a small section, featuring an embossed lion, is astounding enough, in terms of the achievement in ceramic art in that Ancient period. For the next two hours, we went minutely through a collection of Old Masters and contemporary masterpieces that simply took our breath away. From the extensive Medieval Collection to the Modern, we saw works by Botticelli, Constable, Degas, Georgia O’Keefe and Picasso—to name just a few. Each one was better than the other and representative of the most distinctive work of these artists. I could easily have spent another whole hour here, but we had a lunch appointment, back in Fairfield, with our friend, Mary-Lauren (who had the day off), for which we did not want to be late. So, very reluctantly, we left the museum (with me vowing to return there again on my next visit to Fairfield). It was such a well-spent morning.

Lunch with Mary-Lauren at Molto Pizzeria:

It was our friend and hostess, Mary-Lauren, who picked Molto Pizzeria for the casual lunch to which we wanted to treat her as she had been on a business trip throughout our stay at her home. After we dropped our car in her driveway, she took us for a spin in her snazzy vintage, convertible BMW which she has only recently purchased. With the top down on a glorious summer’s day, I sat beside her and tried to channel my inner Isadora Duncan, wearing my scarf around my head and neck! Thankfully, there were no historical accidents repeating themselves!

Lunch was wonderful, overstuffed sandwiches with each of us choosing something from their Lunch Special Menu that suited our fancy. We had ciabatta Sandwiches stuffed with tuna or deli meats (according to our taste) and served with small side salads. Everything was just terrific. Best of all, we actually had the opportunity to spend some quality time with our dear friend who has been so helpful to me, through the last year or two and is so generous in every way you can imagine. I feel so blessed to count her as one of my dearest friends in Fairfield.

Tea with More Friends at Maplethorpe:

No sooner did we finish lunch with Mary-Lauren than we had to say Bye to her and make our way to our next appointment: don’t even ask how I managed to squeeze all these different meetings with different friends, simply because I wanted to make sure that I could see them all during our brief 10-day stay in Connecticut.

The next port of call was the Maplethorpe Assisted Living Community to see our friend Jane who has been resident there for a couple of years. We had heard from her and others that she had a recent fall from which she was still recovering. And so, we were delighted to find her ready to greet us at the entrance, once we arrived there. We were also thrilled to find that our other friends, Virginia and Cheryl, would also be joining us shortly. We were all members of the Meet The Author Committee at the Pequot Library in Southport, Connecticut, which is where I became really friendly with these lovely, inspiring women.

Well, Jane looked wonderful, even if she has slowed down just a little bit. Once up in her room, we found that she had laid out a nice Tea for us with a platter of cookies and fresh lemonade—which we nibbled and sipped. Of course, there is so much for us all to talk about when all of us get together and the chatter simply did not stop. It is always a great pleasure for me to be in Jane’s presence, to enjoy conversation with someone whose vital mind and varied interests coalesce so beautifully with my own and to admire her amazing personal art collection—she has found the space to accommodate all her art work in her tiny space. I was also delighted to find that she had held on to my own book, ‘The Year The World Was Mine’ and that it is in her bookcase (I also saw the same book in Mary-Lauren’s bookcase). I cannot tell you how thrilling it is for a writer to find that friends have supported her efforts by buying her book and holding on to it. All too soon, it was time for us to leave our lovely friends and to think about our next appointment.

But first, we stopped back at our place to finish up our packing for tomorrow and to keep our backpacks ready for our flight to Canada as we’d be traveling with just one small carry-on bag each. This chore done, we could go on to our dinner appointment with full peace of mind.

b>Dinner at our Friend Diana’s Home in Fairfield:

And so, at the appointed hour (7.30 pm), we were ringing the doorbell to the home of our friend Diana who had invited us for a light and casual supper (although her husband Jonathan was on one of his sailing regattas). We were sorry that he would not be with us, but being with Diana is always fun and very heartwarming and she always goes out of her way to give us a good time.

so she did, on this occasion too. She plied us with drinks of our choice and then led us to her table where she had laid out her Spag Bal (what the British call Spaghetti Bolognese)—a large bowl of spaghetti to be topped with her terrific homemade meat-tomato sauce, further topped with lots of fresh, grated parmesan cheese. To go with this, she had a colorful side salad that was also grand. And for dessert, she had a most unusual dessert: a kind of pina colada in a bowl! She had slices of fresh pineapple that she topped with coconut ice-cream over which she poured a dram of rum! Now how creative is that? Well, needless to say, it was so tasty and a perfect ending to a simple, home cooked meal. Diana gave us a lot of family news and we gave her much of ours. It is always a pleasure to hear about her clever sons and their doings.

But, in a couple of hours, it was time for us to leave, as we had an early morning start for our flight to Canada. We thanked Diana profusely for organizing this evening with us, at such short notice, and hugging her goodbye, we returned to Sturbridge Lane to say Goodbye and Thanks to Mary-Lauren and Brett as we’d have a very early start tomorrow.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Another Doctor’s Appointment, Lunch at Shanghai Gourmet, Drinks in Brett’s Sunroom and Thai Dinner with Fairfield’s Indian Friends

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Fairfield, Connecticut

Another Doctor’s Appointment, Lunch at Shanghai Gourmet, Drinks in Brett’s Sunroom and Thai Dinner with Fairfield’s Indian Friends

Today was another day that was fairly unexciting although we did end it by meeting some of our closest friends in Fairfield. It’s funny how, as the years go by, you develop or create little gangs of friends that represent different aspects of your background, history and life. Well, these friends are first-generation immigrants from India who made their home in Fairfield County and with whom we connected, decades ago, so that our friendship has stood the test of time.

But to begin at the begin at the beginning: I drove alone to Trumbull to have my ultra-sound done and to get the opinion of my radiologist, Dr. Neil Specht, who gave me a clean bill of health (Thank you, Lord). That done, I picked Llew up from our lodgings at Sturbridge Lane. He had spent quite a bit of time, during my absence, doing his packing as we will be leaving the USA in two days and flying off to Canada with just a small backpack each. The bulk of our baggage will be left behind in the garage of our friends here in Sturbridge Lane. There is much organizing to do.

Lunch was going to be just the two of us and since we are making sure we have at least one meal in each of our favorite paces, we decided to eat at ‘Shanghai Gourmet’, a really modest Chinese eatery on the Southport-Westport border from where we have been ordering take-out food for years. This time, of course, we ate inside at the little table by the window. We both chose the Hot and Sour Soup that comes with the meal—but decided to simply take it home as it would be too much for us. For our main meal, I chose Shrimp in Hot Garlic Sauce, while Llew picked the Chicken in Mango Sauce—two of our favorite dishes. Both were served over brown rice and as we shared the dishes, we were able to enjoy both.

Lunch done, we returned to Sturbridge Lane for a short rest from packing and other worrying issues. When we surfaced, to face the evening, we realized that Brett had returned from work. As we had barely spent any time with him, it was great to chill on his deck while he fixed us drinks of our choice: a beer for him, red wine for Llew and a perfect margarita for me. With cheese and a few chips for nibbles, we had a very companionable evening while spending some quality time with Brett. His wife, Mary-Lauren, would return from her business trip tomorrow—an opportunity for us to spend some quality time with her.

It was time then for us to get ready for our dinner appointment—an evening out with our Indian friends. We had our showers, got dressed and drove to the Fairfield home of our friends, Dhiru and Kirti. It was Kirti who had initiated this evening’s gathering and I was very grateful to her for rallying the troops around to meet us. It was she too who suggested that we meet at a Bridgeport restaurant called ‘The King and I’ which was reputed for its excellent Thai food. Both Llew and I were delighted at the choice as we do really love the cuisine of Thailand.

As we were running a bit late, they were all set and ready for us and we left as soon as we arrived and parked our car in their driveway. Driving to the restaurant, provided us with the opportunity to catch up before the rest of the gang joined us. Kirti presented me with copies of two of her books (one of which has a blurb by me on the back jacket).

Within a short time, we arrived at The King and I, only to find that our friends had beaten us to it. It was great to meet Yvor and Angie and Delyse and Marcus. We had a wonderful reunion with all of them before we sat down to the serious business of studying the extensive menu and ordering. Finally, it was decided that we we’d get a selection of dishes and eat them family-style. A huge number of dishes were ordered for the table, each more delicious than the next. It was with very full tummies that we eventually ended our meal.

And on that happy note, our dinner and our day came to an end. Kirti and Dhiru drove us back to their home and from their driveway, we picked up our own car and drove ourselves back to Sturbridge Lane.

It had been another memorable day and we were grateful for the opportunity to spend it as fruitfully as we had done.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

A Walk in Southport Village, Lunch with a Friend at L.C. Chen, An Evening in my Brother’s Home, Dinner at the Home of Fairfield Friends

Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Southport and Fairfield, Connecticut A Walk in Southport Village, Lunch with a Friend at L.C. Chen, An Evening in my Brother’s Home, Dinner at the Home of Fairfield Friends

Today was far more relaxing than it’s been in a long time.

My day began with a lovely long walk alone in the village of Southport, an opportunity to admire the glorious gardens of my former neighbors with their lush summer blooms and buzzing bees. Inevitably, I am pulled towards the Carousel Thrift Shop at the Congregation Church—a place from which I have picked up amazing finds over the decades. Today, I was particularly lucky to be able to get first dibs at a variety of vintage jewelry and I left with a nice haul.

Llew then had an appointment with his nephrologist, Dr. Weinstein and I accompanied him there. That done, we were just in time for lunch with our lawyer friend, Mimi, who was working from home today and managed to take time off to meet us at L.C. Chen’s, a pan-Asian place in Fairfield where we were delighted to see her again. She had been extremely helpful to us during our move from the US to India and I will never forget how energetically she worked to make our estate sale a success. We enjoyed Thai Coconut Curry, Shrimp with Cashews and Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, all served over white, steamed rice. Indeed we’ve been eating an overdose of shrimp on this trip as it is always our first choice from any menu.

After Lunch, Llew and I left Mimi to drive to Dairy Queen for Chocolate Cherry Blizzards—alas, no one can make them for us like our friend, Beth-Anne does. Sadly, she has been transferred to the Dairy Queen in Monroe—too far away for us to enjoy this favorite frozen treat.

In the evening, we drove to the home of my brother. We spent a lot of time with him, his wife and his daughter, Anaya as his son, Arav had left for university this morning. We had a lovely time with them over tea and cake and other goodies, but although they invited us to do so, we did not stay for dinner as we had already committed the evening to other friends of ours.

Dinner followed at the home of our friends, Swapna and Rasik, in their spacious new home about which they were so excited. As always, they were the epitome of warm hospitality as they plied us with drinks and nibbles and then got dinner organized. Here too, the star attraction was Swapna’s homemade Shrimp Curry which she served over streamed rice, as well as Sauteed Shrimp with chappatis, bread rolls, and a big salad. Dessert was Malai Kulfi. As always, we felt delighted at the prospect of meeting their young high school son, Parth, and spending time with them as a family. It is also an opportunity for us to see our dining room furniture which they had purchased from us when we were leaving Southport. Now that they have a separate dining room, the entire set is reunited again!

After a really lovely day spent with our nearest and dearest family members and friends, it was time to go back home to Sturbridge Lane and call it a night.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Medical Appointments, Visit to Pequot Library, Lunch at Duchess, Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary at Quatro Pazzi in Fairfield, Connecticut

Tuesday, August 27, 2024:

Fairfield, Connecticut

Medical Appointments, Visit to Pequot Library, Lunch at Duchess, Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary at Quatro Pazzi in Fairfield, Connecticut

Nothing much happened today, but the day turned exciting at the end as Today is a Red Letter Day for Llew and Me—it’s our wedding anniversary!

Appointment with an Endocrinologist:

After eating a hasty breakfast at Brett and Mary-Lauren’s (my own granola with yogurt for Llew and me), we left for our doctor’s appointments. We had a bunch of them today. My first one was at Trumbull at the office of my endocrinologist, Dr. Glenn Rich. He did a thorough examination today (as he always does) and, good news this, I got a clean bill of health as my osteoporosis seems to have declined and I am no longer thought to have it. Always an annual concern, this. He also monitored my meds, having taken a look at my bone density analysis (which was also fine) and told me to see him again after a year.

Off to the Pequot Library:

With some time to kill in-between medical appointments, we decided to make another trip to the Pequot Library. This time, we were far more successful. Not only did we meet the Director, our good friend, Stephanie Coakley, but we also met some of the staff who know us so well: Christine (who organized the talks I have given—in person and on zoom) and, for the first time, I met Charlie, who had been the host of my last zoom talk there. He joined the Library staff after Llew and I left Southport—hence, we had only made acquaintance with him, long-distance. It was great fun to go back into the stacks and meet our friend, Sandy, and to find a few new faces. New volunteers are always joining the Library’s cohort (as we had done nearly 40 years ago). I took pictures with all of them (to immortalize these moments).

Off to the Dentist:

Then, it was time for my annual dental appointment with Fairfield Dental Arts. Llew decided to accompany me so that we could have lunch right after I was done. It is always a pleasure to meet the staff at this dental practice as I have been with them for more than twenty years. I was lucky to get Dr. Jessalyn Fiorella herself, on this occasion, as one of her staff members was absent and she was filling in. She did my annual X-rays and then was excited to introduce me to a brand-new cleaning system that they have installed which uses hi-technology power-jets to produce deep cleaning through high-jet sprays. The manual cleaning of each tooth is now no longer required. I must say that I was really impressed with the new system and also with the thorough diagnostic report that I was given at the end. What’s more, as I discussed my acute dental sensitivity with her, she suggested she coat my teeth with a fluoride layer that will last for a year and will provide protection against some of the sensitivity I have been experiencing. I was really delighted to have such wonderful treatments so easily available when I have my annual check-ups. I was frank enough to tell the dentist that I would probably not have the time to do follow-up work in the US and would have to do it in India. She was very understanding, but despite not needing to do it herself, gave me a full and extensive report which I will only need to take to my dentist in India to get the work done. I am truly fortunate in the medical personnel who work with and for me.

Lunch at Duchess:

As we were really close to Duchess, one of my favorite fast-food chains, at Fairfield Circle, we decided to go there for their over-stuffed sandwiches which we both love. We had Chicken Parmesan & Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches which we shared. I must say that both Llew and I are having grave sticker shock at the prices of every item in the US today. There is no doubt at all that inflation has hit very hard and is reflected in the price of everything we buy—whether they are groceries, provisions or ready meals in restaurants. I am guessing that this will be a major factor in the coming US elections.

Rest and Relaxation After Lunch:

With nothing on the agenda this afternoon, we were able to get back home to Sturbridge Lane to Mary-Lauren’s. We had told Brett and Sage that we’d be taking them out to dinner as it was our wedding anniversary. Accordingly, we showered and had a chance to get some rest before it was time for us to keep our reservation appointment at Quatro Pazzi which was their choice for a nice Italian dinner.

Champagne Toast at Home and Dinner at Quatro Pazzi:

When Brett got back from work, in the evening, we opened a bottle of champagne (from the stock that we had actually left behind in their home). Sage was also present and we had a lovely toast during which we thanked them for hosting us and for a very comfortable stay.

Just a little later, we drove to Fairfield Center and found lovely seats at Quatro Pazzi where the portions are huge and the food simply delicious. We had Buratta with Pesto, Prosciutto and Roasted Red Peppers for a shared appetizer. Our Mains were: Capellini with Peas and Prosciutto (Sage), Rigatoni Burrata (Brett), Farfalle with Shrimp (Llew) and Linguine Pescatore (Rochelle). What a superly scrumptious meal it was! However, as expected, our pasta portions were humongous and Llew and I ended up taking half of our plates home in doggie bags.

Not to leave Dessert out, we then made our way to the Dairy Queen kiosk on the Post Road and ended up having wonderful Blizzards (my favorite type of ice-cream). These brought the curtain down on a very special wedding anniversary for us.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Leaving Westchester, Mammograph at Fairfield, Lunch at Bonnie’s, Outlet Shopping at Clinton Crossings, Evening at my Brother’s, Dinner at Shake Shack

Monday, August 26, 2024

Fairfield, Connecticut

Leaving Westchester, Mammograph at Fairfield, Lunch at Bonnie’s, Outlet Shopping at Clinton Crossings, Evening at my Brother’s, Dinner at Shake Shack

Keeping a Medical Appointment:

Today was super crazy!

We awoke in our friends’, Allan and Anita’s place, in White Plains, Westchester, and since they had an early start and had already left for the day, we left as soon as we could, taking our things with us (only I left my black hoodie behind by mistake). We drove through quiet back streets using our Waze App and made our way straight to Trumbull where I had a 10.00 am Mammogram and ultra sound appointment with my radiologist, Dr. Neil Specht. But it seems I could only do the one and not the other as the technician was absent today. They gave me an appointment for the day after tomorrow, which means that I shall have to return to get it done. Huge Bummer!

Shopping at Walmart and Keeping Another Appointment:

Since I had an hour to kill, I told Llew that I would go to Walmart in Stratford and pick up our annual supply of Vitamins, Calcium and other supplements. This I did quite painlessly and then quickly drove back to Trumbull for my appointment with Dr. Glenn Rich, my endocrinologist. Turns out a change of systems & medical groups, caused me to be dropped off the schedule. Have been rescheduled for tomorrow at noon—double bummer!

Off for some Designer Outlet Shopping:

With a bit of time at our disposal (and realizing that we should make the most of every minute at our disposal and do all our intended shopping and not leave anything to be done in New Jersey, if we could help it), we decided to set off for Clinton Crossing. But our friend Bonnie insisted that we eat lunch at their’s before leaving. In fact, she had already set up a buffet of leftovers from her fridge—which we were glad to enjoy: Art’s flank steak with chimichurri sauce, Bonnie’s composed green salad, sweet potato fries, Lugano pizza from Centro. Yes, it was a delicious lunch and we enjoyed it.

But, not wanting to waste too much time, we got into our car and drove to Clinton, Connecticut. The place was empty—a far cry from Saturday afternoon when it had been heaving. Llew was very lucky, His intention was to get into Nike and buy himself a pair of sneakers—and he was very pleased to get a superb pair at a superb price. So the trip was vindicated. We poked around in a few other stores before we made our way back. Unfortunately, we were caught in horrendous traffic that slowed us down considerably. Still, we were back at Bonnie’s in time for showers and to pack all our stuff into the trunk of our car and bid goodbye to our friends as they would be leaving early tomorrow morning for their own trip to Cape Cod.

Leaving Bonnie’s, Settling into Mary-Lauren’s and Off to my Brother’s:

After saying our thanks and goodbye to our friends, we drove off to Southport to our friend, Mary-Lauren’s. Her husband Brett was working from home. It was he who showed us up to our room in their enormous home and made us feel comfortable. However, we did not stay long as we had plans to spend the evening with my brother.

The original plan was that we would have dinner at my brother’s place in Fairfield as both his children happened to be at home. Sadly, due to unavoidable circumstances, plans changed as they were unable to provide dinner. However, we had a lovely long visit with them and then left after taking a couple of pictures, as I knew that, with his son returning to uni, we would never get a complete family photograph again.

Dinner at Shake Shack:

One of my favorite upscale fast food chains at which to eat is Shake Shack and we decided that since we hadn’t eaten there yet, that would be our port of call. It was almost closing time when we got there, but we were able to place our order for their Shroom Burgers with Bacon and their extra-thick chocolate shakes which is exactly how I like them. Llew and I were the only ones at the place as we sat there and enjoyed our delicious dinner.

Just a little later, we drove to Mary-Lauren’s home and were very pleased to meet her, even if briefly, as she is off on a business trip, early tomorrow morning. We made some plans to take her out for lunch when she gets back as she will miss all the fun of the next few days with us at her place. However, her daughter Sage is home—which is a huge bonus as she is a very talkative and friendly young lady and it is always a pleasure to spend time with her.

All that was left was for us to say good night to our hosts and get ready for bed.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.

Outlet Shopping at Clinton Crossing, Lunch with Friends at Gruel Britannia, A Special Visit to Special Fairfield Friends, A Fun Cookout with ‘Dinner Club Couples’.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Boston-Connecticut

Outlet Shopping at Clinton Crossing, Lunch with Friends at Gruel Britannia, A Special Visit to Special Fairfield Friends, A Fun Cookout with ‘Dinner Club Couples’.

We had another glorious day today! It was all about returning from Boston to Fairfield, but en route we had such a lovely time too.

Leaving Boston and Shopping at Clinton Crossing Outlets:

We Left Andover, Massachusetts, rather early in the morning and without having breakfast as we wanted to get a head start. We had a 1.00 pm appointment for lunch with friends in Fairfield Connecticut, but prior to that, we wanted to stop at our favorite designer outlet stores at Clinton Crossing in Clinton, Connecticut, to get some shopping done. The road journey (with Llew at the wheel) was quick and uneventful and we arrived in Clinton at about 11.30 pm which left us about an hour for shopping.

It is always fun to return to Clinton Crossing and to the Westfield Outlets that are a couple of exits before it. We went to Westfield first and were absolutely shocked at how deserted the place is. Most of the designer stores have closed down and were empty—the place looked like a ghost town and that too on a Saturday! We could not believe it. I was looking for a black short-sleeved shirt with a collar but could not find it anywhere.

Not to be daunted, we drove on to Clinton. There, it did look as if everyone and his brother was out shopping. Llew specifically wanted a pair of Nike sneakers; but when he went to the store, he found the line outside it so long and the wait time to enter the store to be over a half hour! That was it! We could not afford the time. I looked for a couple of things I wanted (Clark shoes) and did, in fact, find two pairs of sandals I actually liked. There was nothing to be found in my other favorite stores: Ann Taylor, Coach, Lindt, etc. But with those sandals in the bag, we left with the thought that we would return on a weekday morning to pick up Llew’s shoes.

Lunch at ‘Gruel Britannia’:

My friend Leslie and her husband Sunil had planned with us to meet at ‘Gruel Britannia’, a little British eatery on the Post Road in Fairfield, where I love the food and the ambience (given that I am such a confirmed Anglophile). Leslie was already there when we arrived, a little after 1.00 pm and found ourselves seats in the house. Sunil, her husband, joined us just a bit later.

Before we sat down to catch up and order our food, I saw the owner of the place, Karen, whom I know well. I went up there to meet her and was quite delighted at the lovey reception I received. I asked if we could take pictures together and she readily agreed. In fact, she gave me her phone number and begged me to whatsapp them to her so that she could use them on all her social media pages. It was a lovely reunion as Karen is always warm and friendly—aside from being an amazing chef.

When I did return to our table to order, we ended up with me ordering Bangers, Mash and Onion Gravy (which was just superlative), a ⁠Turkey Sandwich with Bacon and Avocado and a Side Salad for Leslie, ⁠Shepherd’s Pie for Sunil and ⁠Coronation Chicken Salad for Llew. It was a proper pub lunch and the meal offered us an opportunity to chat about everything that has been happening locally since our departure, to the travels we had recently undertaken and our plans for the future. All too soon, it was time for us to part, but we were really pleased that we were able to see another set of friends whom we love dearly.

A Visit with Special Friends in Fairfield:

The next hour was spent in the home of our friends, the Deans, in Fairfield. They are the lovely people who had left their beautiful mountain cabin home in the Grand Tetons National Park for our exclusive use (even though none of them were staying there at the time). It was fabulous to see Virginia again and to meet Jimmy who was recovering from recent surgery. We sat outside on their deck overlooking their lovely garden and were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet their son, Jimmy, who was visiting from Montana. We were too full to have even a cup of tea with them but we did enjoy our chinwag and our chance to tell them how much we had enjoyed their mountain home and how grateful we were for the opportunity to stay in it.

An Evening’s Cookout with our Dinner Club Friends:

All that was left then was our evening’s plans—for which we were running a bit late. But we were trying to squeeze in visits with a variety of friends in different places—so it was inevitable that we would end up late at some events.

When Llew and I lived in Fairfield, we had been members of a Dinner Club that met every quarter to enjoy a meal in the home of one of our members. I had requested my friend Bonnie (in whose home we were staying) to see if she could organize one of our Dinner Club evenings while we were in town. Bonnie was quick to oblige and tried to make it happen: but, since August is such a busy month, several of the members had other plans. In the end, it was just Art and Bonnie and Dan and Amy who were free to join in.

Nevertheless, Bonnie went all out to organize a really lovely pot-luck do. For starters, there was a delicious Lamb Sausage from an Italian deli which we enjoyed with drinks on her beautifully-decorated deck. Then, Art did some fantastic grilling—we had flank steak with chimichuri sauce as his main dish and Bonnie provided all the sides: Boston baked beans, a lovely salad with ripe peaches, tomato and mozzarella, Amy brought a simple salad of arugula with shaved parmesan cheese. There was also grilled corn on the cob. For dessert, Bonnie cut us huge slices of her Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Best of all, was the very companionable chatting we did as darkness fell over Fairfield and the fireflies came out to play on the lawns. It brought back all the years of friendship that Llew and I have enjoyed with our Book and Dinner Club friends with whom we have been through so many good times and bad during our lives in the USA. It was such a lovely setting, reminiscent of the many years of Dinner Club evenings we have enjoyed through the decades.

with that, our day came to an end and we were happy to be able to simply climb up one floor and get into bed—after trying hard to give Bonnie a hand with putting things away (although she would have none of it).

Until tomorrow, cheerio…

Lunch at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Fellow-Docents, Appointment with an Ophthalmologist and Dinner with Friends at ‘Il Tinello’.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Fairfield-New York City-Fairfield

Lunch at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Fellow-Docents, Appointment with an Ophthalmologist and Dinner with Friends at ‘Il Tinello’.

The Big Apple called today-and we responded!!! It was so fab to be New Yorkers again But to begin at the beginning of the day… We awoke this morning in yet another venue—the well-appointed guest room of our friends, Bonnie and Art, in Fairfield, Connecticut, where we had arrived well past midnight. It was little wonder that we woke late to go downstairs and find that Bonnie had put out a lovely mini-breakfast buffet for us: her homemade blueberry muffins, her homemade granola (she told me there was yogurt in the fridge) and Art had actually gone out, while we were still asleep, to buy me decaff coffee! Now how thoughtful is that? My mind was blown away! We had a quick breakfast, however, as we had to get to Manhattan on the first off-peak train, if possible. And, prior to that, we needed to drive to our friend, Mary-Lauren’s house to pick up a bag of my DVDs that she had left there for me. I was going to take those into the city to drop them off, later in the afternoon, at the apartment of my friend, Ruchi, who had offered to carry them to Bombay for me. So, there were 20 DVDs that I picked up that morning.

That done, we drove away without meeting anyone in the house as they were already at work. We parked our car in the Day Parking slot at Southport Station, bought our senior discounted tickets from the ticket machine and we were off.

Journey into Manhattan:

It was just wonderful to ride the Meto-North train again. Although it was reminiscent of the countless journeys we took, over three decades, into Manhattan to get to work, this was slightly different. We were clearly on ‘vacation’ and had a whole lot of things to think of that were not work-related. As it was end-August and my NYU faculty members were all on vacation, it did not make any sense for me to go to my old office building to meet anyone—it would be completely dead. Llew, on the other hand, had plans to meet his former colleagues and, in particular, our friend Anna, with whom he would have lunch. I was headed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to have lunch with some of my friends.

So, I got off at 125th Street in Harlem (still filthy & smelly--as I always do when I am headed to the Met) and Llew carried on in the train to the last stop at Grand Central Station. I then walked one block down to the subway station and took the 5 train to 86th Street from where I walked a few blocks to the Met. It was already almost 1.00 pm. It was simply terrific to stroll along the Upper East Side (still immaculate and ultra posh) on a particularly lovely day when the temperature was just perfect. I reached the Met in ten minutes and at the Main Info Desk on the main floor, I found my friend, Friea waiting for me. One big hug later, we were joined by our other docent friend, Liz, and without much ado, we made our way to the Staff Cafetaria for lunch. It was great fun to see my learned friends again.

Lunch with my Met Docent Friends:

It is always a thrill for me to eat in the Staff Cafeteria at the Met for old times’ sake. You might think I’m crazy but, apart from the nostalgia element which is important to me (I spent years eating lunch there on Sundays in-between the Highlights Tours I gave), it really has one of the tastiest Salad Bars I know and I always looked forward to assembling a salad there and douzing it with their incredible Caesar Salad Dressing. I included stuffed dolmades (vine leaves with rice, herbs and pine nuts), artichoke hearts and tons of blue cheese plus cubes of grilled chicken—you can just imagine how scrumptious (and how large) my salad was! My two friends also chose salads and armed with these meals, we made our way to the fountain courtyard to eat.

Great food aside, the best part of these meals with long-time friends is the ability to catch up on everything that has gone on in our lives since the last time we met. And yes, we had tons to talk about—and we did. Plus, there was the bonus of meeting yet another docent friend, Carmen, who had also graduated with our batch of docent trainees in 2000! It was terrific having a reunion with her. So, in every way, it was a grand lunch and I enjoyed every second of it.

A Really Special Fashion Exhibition at the Met:

My friends advised me to make certain I took in the stunning exhibition in the Costume Institute entitled, ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ which featured designs from everyone you can think of beginning with the 1950’s House of Worth & Schiaparelli to contemporary designers like Issac Mizrahi, the House of Dior, Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors, etc. What was amazing was that the designs were inspired by various elements from the natural world—flowers, fruit, vegetables, even insects. As with all Costume Institute exhibitions, the outfits were beautifully curated. Each one was a work of art in its conception, design and execution: what one needs to admire and note is the structure of each garment. I found it all breathtaking and spent far more time than I had expected.

Appointments with our Ophthalmologist off Park Avenue:

Still, towards the end I had to run as I had a 3.00 pm appointment with our ophthalmologist, Dr. Daniel Rosberger, who has been treating me for just a year (I had my last check-up with him exactly a year ago) and Llew for at least 15 years. Llew joined me there to get our annual check-ups. The testing, scanning, dilation, injection of veins with dye to ensure there was no bleeding in the eye, was all so detailed, but at the end, it was done. As always, I am impressed by the thoroughness of the procedures and the attention to explanation. The patient is never kept guessing about what is going on. Overall? News is not bad, at least not for the moment. Next check-up recommended for next year.

Stroll Down Lexington Avenue to Meet a Friend:

With our eyes well and truly dilated, we walked down Lexington Avenue. Llew told me he’d had a very nice lunch with Anna and had caught up on a lot of office news since his departure. We were headed to our friend Ruchi’s apartment on Lexington Avenue and spent a good hour gabbing with her, her husband and college-going son. It was wonderful to be in Manhattan again—to take in its energy, its verve, and its sense of being unchanging. We spent a lovely hour with Ruchi and I finally handed my DVDs over to her. I also met her older son (I know her younger one well) and her husband and after about an hour, with a promise that we would meet again in Bombay, we left.

Dinner with Close Friends at ‘Il Tinello’:

Having walked about twenty blocks downtown to Ruchi’s place, we had both worked up quite an appetite and were well and truly ready for dinner. So, next, we strolled down Lexington Avenue to keep our dinner appointment with two of our closest friends, Amy Tobin & her partner, Rothschild, at ‘Il Tinello’, a very glam Italian restaurant. Llew had last seen them when they had come to Fairfield to bid us goodbye, just before we left together for India. I had met Amy last August—exactly a year ago—when she had helped me so much in closing down my office at NYU and loading my stuff into the train. I will never forget how helpful she had been to me. A true friend in need! The meal was simply superb and the service outstanding. Bruschetta for a starter at ‘Il Tinello’ was followed by 4 different plates of Pasta: Orchiette with Brocolli Rabe & Italian Sausage (me); Rigatoni with Bolognese Sauce & fresh Mozarella (Amy); Ravioli with ground veal & spinach (Llew) and Spaghetti Vongole (with clam sauce—Rothschild). We shared Tiramisu for dessert. Italian is not my favorite cuisine for nothing!!!! There was much drama at the next table as the waiter rustled up a fancy dessert called Zabaglione for the ladies at the next table. It is such spectacles that make eating out in New York so much fun! Dinner done and the bill paid, the four of us walked two blocks ahead to Grand Central Station to take the train (and subway for them) back to Southport! What a terrific day we’d had in New York! We’d done all our errands and met good friends, we’d eaten superb meals and we’d used every minute of our time in The Big Apple.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…