Sheep of God

Yesterday while veiwing some content on the internet (with the Hungarian Mud Engineer, Mihaly Kalapos) about Debrecen, which is his city in Hungary, He showed me the city's Crest and excitedly pointed out to the lamb in the crest, "This is the sheep........" he said. I said that I knew because it looked like one, to which he replied, "No! No!.. This is the SHEEP OF GOD" ...... And then it dawned on me - The Sheep of God who takest away the sins of the world.

.....SPARE US O LORD !!

Hungarian Goulash Day

Yesterday was Hungarian Goulash day. Not in the same sense as "Labour day" or "Republic Day" . But simply because yesterday Istvan the chief Mechanic prepared a large vessel of very tasty Hungarian Goulash. He single handedly prepared the dish right from cutting of the veggies and the lamb, the cooking, the preparation of the Hungarian pasta the and eventually dishing it out to us in bowls. It was a fantastic meal. This meal was washed down by the home brewed Palinka which is so much like the Goan Feni.

Incidentally, I jogged most of the 7.5 kms to base camp for this meal, which made me very thirsty and so a couple of Palinka pre-wash drinks were required. Istvan in the pic with the remaining goulash today - My dinner.

Fitness and Me ---- 2

I have worked in the oilfield for 18 years. During the early years I was subjected to a lot of manual labour and was able to maintain some semblance of shape. When I was promoted to Night Tool Pusher, all I had to do was supervise - and that's not good for a guy (me ) who's constitution requires that I do some manual work just to keep from putting on weight.

It was then that I met Yves Slagmulder who suggested that we start running together. Now Yves was fairly portly when I first met him but he was very committed to losing weight. So he chalked out a plan to go running every evening and dragged along Mihaly Kalapos (who used to be a long distance runner - if what he says is true) and Me, who couldn't run 50 mtrs without panting like a dog on heat. Well to cut a long story short I relented, and today I can jog more than 3 kms at a go and have acquired a more streamlined facade. This streamlined facade I will develop, and one day when I step out of the surf (at the beach in Goa) people will ohh! and ahh! thinking that I am the next James Bond. A big shout out to Yves Slagmulder who helped make this possible !!!!!

Cricket and Idiots

Tonight is the night that (almost) all Indians will be glued to to their television sets to watch the World Cup match between Sri Lanka & India. I say 'almost' because I know with absolute certainty that my wife will be one of the few Indians who will be fast asleep. I too will be sleeping (can't be bothered to lose sleep over cricket). But I will wake up tomorrow morning and switch on the news to find out whether India has gone thru to the super eights OR whether there have been acts of vandalism directed towards the homes of the players.

...........An ugly business this cricket! It's not a simple 'win or lose' situation anymore, it has now evolved into a 'do or die' culture. Take Pakistan for instance - they didn't 'do' and so their coach was killed. When the Indians lost the match against Bangladesh, some of the players' families were terrorized. I pity the poor sods who will have to perform today under this sort of pressure. I tell you I glad that I am not talented enough to be a cricketeer!!

Fitness and Me ---- 1

I have been a bit of a fitness aficionado ever since the ''Youth Movement' days. There I met guys like Kennedy, Sabby and Michael 'Bandy' who fuelled this yearning for fitness. Very soon I came to be known as "TARZAN". And secretely I was pleased even though it was invariably always preceeded by "PAPER". In due course of time, when the workout began to show, I was upgraded to "CARDBOARD TARZAN". After a few years my interest in fitness waned and a smallish stomach began to show and I earned the nickname of "PAITLIA". And even today there are still a few members of that YM group that still (fondly) remember me as "PAITS". Not anymore guys !!!!!! But that's another story.

New Tailor - New Suits - Old Men

Had to stitch a new suit for the FHC. Jacqui insisted that I get myself a new one. In her words exactly, delivered with finality, "You will not to wear this suit" (talking about the one I got myself in December for the Ruby Anniversary). And so... I took Richie - our neighbour and very close friend - and we went suit shopping. After stopping in at three outlets and finding nothing to our satisfaction we decided to buy material and stitch suits. So we went into the Raymonds shop at Elco Arcade and settled on the material and even decided to stitch there. Didn't know they stitched but apparently they have been for a very long time so we decided to chance it. Went for a fitting a couple of days later and was pleasantly surprised at the fit - the best I've had yet. Raymonds Zindabad!! Elco Arcade too!! (from where all Bandraites have or will purchase something at some time in their lives).

Oman and the Omanis

Have been working in Oman for nine years. Love the place and the people. Muscat is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. It's like a a bunch of tiny towns in the mountains connected by highways. Salalah I've heard is even more beautiful.

The people here are so much like Indians and initially I was surprised to hear that so many of them even speak Hindi. What I like about the Omanis is that they are a humble and friendly people.

Now, the oilfield work environment here in Oman is a whole different ball game altogether. I have seen a few class idiots during my time spent in the oilfield in India, but here in Oman the sheer numbers of class idiots that come out of the woodwork is staggering. How I wish I had my old crew from 'Miss Kitty' working for me here and now !!

Who am I.....??

I am for most purposes, a Husband, a Father, a cook (very occasionally), a wannabe DIY enthusiast, a mad hatter (most of the time) and a LOVER...
....of animals

My Daughter, My Wife - My Family

What a fantastic kid she is. I'd like to think that she's a bit like I was when I was her age. She is currently in class four and scores extremely well in all her subjects . I remember quite clearly that my grades were dropping after class two and so the theory that she might be like me is slowly going out the window.

Yes ! Now that I think about it, she is without doubt so much better than I was (at her age) !! Quite clearly Jacqui is doing a fantastic job with her. I see them together and I know that there is no way in hell that I could even do a fraction what Jacqui does. And now while on the subject of Jacqui, let me say that I am blessed indeed to have Jacqui on my side. Why? Simply because I have seen what happens to those who are not on the same side that she is on.

I shudder (not unlike what vehicles do when they 'judder') to think what my life might be without Jacqui and Rithika. My Family - I love them !