Snippets

  When doing simple things in life one comes across solutions for complex problems -  Like for example; unravelling a line of stitching. It is only with guidance one comes to know that this is a simple task if done from the right side but can get awfully complicated from the wrong side. Also when doing it the right way if one faces difficulties try from another spot. Choose a spot away from a point where one desires it to be unravelled, insert the hook and pull, not too hard that it will break. One gets the clear picture of the line of stitching, making sure that what is being pulled is the stitch and not the warp or weft of the cloth. Now pull hard enough to break the thread and then choose the spot that is crumpled due to the pull and hook the thread and pull. In this way one can unravel the whole line in seconds. If one gets to a point of difficulty leave that after a few attempts and go to another spot to come back later when most of the line of stitching has come off from the reve

  Spent a wonderful evening last Friday with Elizabeth(Gina) & Thomas(Kunju) who were kind enough to travel all the way from Missisauga to downtown Toronto to pick me up. Our plan was to park the car and take the ferry to Centre Island. From Church street to the Ferry terminal was about 3-4kms but road work taken up during summer made us go up and down a few streets confusing me. I believed after my evening walks that I knew downtown Toronto like the back of my hand but it proved otherwise!!! We soon reached the place and drove into the parking lot, making our way up in the lift. The lift opened up into a beautiful area in what Gina later explained to me was a part of the PATH.  The PATH is a mostly underground pedestrian walkway network in downtown Toronto that spans more than 30 kilometres of restaurants, shopping, services and entertainment. The walkway facilitates pedestrian linkages to public transit, accommodating more than 200,000 business-day commuters as well as tourists a

   COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, CITY OF NEW YORK UNIVERITY COMMENCEMENT MAY 18, 2022 As we waited with bated breath for the Academic Procession to start the excitement of the Graduates and their friends and families was palpable. Dressed in their Sunday best the guests peered over the hundreds of bobbing heads to see if they could identify their own progeny from among the couple of thousands gathered in their distinctive blue University academic regalia or robe, waving balloons and flags.  Draped in a golden yellow traditional Saree from Kerala that was shining  in the spring sunlight I watched with pride as I ruminated over the more personal departmental ceremony that was held a couple of days back where the students were called to the podium and felicitated for the good work they had done to complete their graduation. The air was mesmerising on both the days, with blue skies and white clouds and spring in the air added to the happiness all around. A batch of students who had faced the pandem