Continuing the extracts from pre-blog newsletters
from Sandeepany Sadhanalaya.
From ANL12
- THE HALF FULL GLASS…
Now if I
tell you the first two weeks of June seemed to 'have it in fer me' it is
because anything and everything that could turn itself upside down did just
that. First there was the finally caving in and going for an eye test (current
prescription not up to the stress); sure enough reading strength had to go up a
couple of notches and – lo! - am also now into bifocals (for class only) and it
is amazing to be able to read the whiteboard...! Replacement lens' in current
frames plus a new set altogether for the bi's cost in total (incl. Checkup) ₨3625. That's something like $70/£45ish. Bargain. Will be getting retested and
buying more before I leave Mumbai!! Anyway, that was yet another signal that
age is becoming a firm companion.
Next
slightly less minor disturbance came at the end of the first week when it was
realised that I was overdue for renewal of Indian Residence Permit; small panic
when Arun also found his, plus his visa, were about to expire. The pair of us
were bundled into a car early the very next morning (Friday 8th) and off down
to City Mumbai.
Early signs of monsoon were there but it came to nothing in the
end. We went down the coastal route and across a fantastic bridge – pretty
new and toll charge. I was super impressed as it reminded of the Anzac bridge
but is about 4x longer and sweeps in a huge loop; it may even have been a
complete semicircle. Got to see the sea, beaches, ships. Woo hoo. We arrived at
just about the right time and were taken in almost immediately to the FRRO and
even Arun's visa presented no trouble. We were out by midday.
As we had the car
until 4pm we went a bit rogue and headed down to see the Gateway to India. This
backfired somewhat – intending to be only an hour (taking in lunch), the driver
disappeared and it took until 3pm to reach him (via lots of sweet-talking other
cabbies to use their cellphones to go round via head office.......sigh). Arun
was a bit agitated, but I stood on the corner, taking in the sight of the
monument and all the crowds coming and going. Got a 'tan' too. Always wanted to
be a Red Indian... (oooh
sorry!)
Pre-monsoon
mango glut was on also – the pickers finally turned up; this was "yer good ol'
fashun" slicker up the tree with a basket on a rope kind of lark! About 7 or 8
men took it in turns to be the 'monkey' or the 'gatherer' and in one day they
pretty much had the bulk of the crop. They did leave a fair bit though... thank
the Lord, 'cos here's a confession.
Hello everyone, my name is Yamini and I am
a Mangoholic... it's tragic. Every time I was out on the am/pm walks, I carried
the take-away bag and pounced on every available mango within reach; even took
to standing beneath one particular tree knowing that roughly every five minutes
at least two more would drop at my feet. How to explain the exquisiteness of
fresh-from-tree-fruit? At left you see a picture of the necessary equipment for
mango addiction. That is only a quarter of the stock of fruit from my window
ledge. I am an expert at nick and strip to get quickly into the flesh to milk
it into the bowl. To keep my energy up spicy namkeen and strong black tea were
needed. Was beginning to think I would have major withdrawal at end of season –
but actually, as suddenly as the mangos finished, so did my need for them. But
am already looking forward to next year.
Okay, so a
few weeks back questions were arising as to my central motivation in life;
study work was piling down on me; then I was at risk of being deported, going
blind and discovered a mango vasana... health not the best, partly due to the
stress I suppose...
THEN - Archaya-ji got into full swing by the beginning of June and
laid down a heap of written work for us to have completed by the end of month;
also we had to prepare talks on verses of Bhaja Govindam... I had fun bringing
in mention of the drongo in mine. (You had to be there.) Of course sanskrit
didn't let up and Samvid-ji kept the homework piled up at his end. So you may
take from this paragraph that academically one has been under pressure.
Just to
complete the dreadful month of June, sanskrit exam was announced for 21 July.
Oh give me a powder someone!
YAM xx `
It is interesting to read this again a year later - nothing much has changed - except of course the knowledge level. All the same pains though!!!
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