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Sunday, September 28, 2008

ANNUAL CONCERT ST.MARY'S SCHOOL MOUNT ABU












When I walked into the hall, the warmth that spread from all four walls entrapped me in a web of nostalgia. The stage that had been freshly set up sent an excitement through my very being, as eons ago I had also participated in one of the best operas ever presented in the history of the school “The Micardo” The red velvet curtains that cloaked the stage seemed to present me with memories long forgotten. The annual concert, the pride of the boys who participated in the various plays, songs, variety shows and the Opera flashed through. The slight light streaming through the curtain seemed to reach out and touch the bare spot in the corner of my heart. As I walked towards the stage, I saw the rows of chairs laid out for the parents of the students who would be performing for them, I visualized the thrill and expectancy and the joy on these folks who without fail land up every year leaving their busy schedules to be there for their Kids. On this stage, the memories that expressed themselves were overwhelming. When I left the room, it was as if I had tasted a piece of paradise.
"Liz, my bitter half attended the variety show yesterday", she was really impressed by the variety show put up by the students. All the shows were incredible, the events were fabulous and the audience were wrapped in apt attention, they were bowled away with the ideas and concepts presented by the students and the supreme efforts put on by the teaching staff and faculty. Like previous years, this year also saw record crowds in the hall.
Today was the anchor; the opera was “UNCLE SCROOGE”. My Daughter who is a teacher there said the hall was overcrowded. The boys were given a standing ovation by all present there in appreciation for their outstanding and wonderful efforts. Snaps posted today have been taken by my bitter half and my daughter Jennifer. It was great to see many students from the 1983 I.C.S.E. batch in the hall, dressed in special T.Shirts, celebrating the Silver Anniversary of them having left school. At the end of the show they even sang a song from an opera from their time "Do the boys rock". It really was quite a spectacle. What a great feeling to see these guys as well as other Ex- students, it speaks volumes of the love they have for the school.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Seasons first Rainbow Mount Abu

Seasons first Rainbow Mt Abu

Seasons first Westend Rainbow  Mt Abu
Seasons first Westend Rainbow Mt Abu


Seasons first Westend Rainbow Abu
Seasons first Westend Rainbow Mt Abu


Seasons first Westend Rainbow Abu
Seasons first Westend Rainbow Mt Abu


Orange Sky
Orange Sky
What did the rainbow come to predict for this Abode of the gods? Abuites you have fallen short of the grace of the Gods and hence this sign in the sky is to notify you that from today this paradise of your will not be receiving any more nectar from us till you make amends and maybe next year we may smile down on you and shower you with our blessings.
I remember my days when sailing the high seas. The. The colours of the sky had a lot to do with our mood swings to either fill us with hope or despair. I recall the proverb “Red sky at night sailor's delight, Red sky at morning, sailors take warning”. Today I’m on Terra firma and take delight in watching the changing face of the heavens.







Monsoon Update Mount Abu

Monsoon Update Mount Abu



Blue Mountains


The Aravalli range Mt.Abu Domain

Yesterday while returning from Sirohi, these superb sights caused me to stop and take pictures. The Blue Mountains as they are fondly called are actually the Great Aravalli Range running roughly about 485 Kilometers from Northeast to Southwest across the Rajasthan state.  Looks like Mount Abu is being drenched for maybe the last time this season, the monsoons in this area have dwindled off completely over the last few weeks, Abu is still high and dry and in desperate need of rain, our dams and reservoirs are in desperate want. We Abuites have faced drought conditions before but we do not want a repeat performance by Mother Nature as only we know the inconvenience we have to put up with.



Thursday, September 11, 2008

Google Chrome Any Takers?

I’m a great fan of Google I’ve been using their service from day one. I’ve learnt a lot using their various services, for which I am grateful. I have several of my own sites on their Google pages a few examples here are the URL of some of them

http://ainsleyster.googlepages.com/home,

http://leopardslair.bera.googlepages.com/home

http://footloosenfancyfree.blogspot.com/

Their Gmail service is way out. Once one learns to configure it and use it, it's exceptional. Google Chrome was a genuine surprise. , while surfing on the 2nd of September, I stumbled upon this by chance and tried to get its released download, on the second itself, but had no luck. On the third, I downloaded it and used it for a short while, and its results impressed me. I felt my pulse pulsating like never before. I used Firefox some time ago but this browser left a stronger impression on me than Firefox did. It was like holding my first date at the dance. floor, the excitement seemed to flow naturally through my veins. I sent a link to about 150 of my mates and I tell you a large majority of them had just this to say “outstanding”.

Today, I learned a quick way to access my favourite websites using the web browser. By opening the Google Product page, I found out that I could easily drag the icons to my taskbar for quick access. As seen in the snap above, you can see all the different icons I have placed there and it’s fascinating to find that they work wonderfully. So all you Google users go right away and do drop me a line giving me any other features that are helpful.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

SPORTS DAY [ 29th SEPTEMBER,2008 ] ST.MARY'S MOUNT ABU

 ST.MARY'S MOUNT ABU


Bruno, one of the school dogs

Clicked Plummy on the way to school

The field is prepared for sports rehearsal

11'feet yet to go Lower Kodra Dam


A boarding student’s life is fantastic. Today, I drove to school via foggy curved roads, it coated my eyelashes in small globules of water droplets, and my head and the few strands of hair that remained glistened with beads of the late afternoon misty sprays that I had driven through. As I passed through the gates near the chapel, it overcame me with nostalgia for the happiest days of my life.

Memories of bunking out of limits to avoid earning a “one-way ticket” flooded back. I recall bunking lunch and running helter-skelter all the way to the school lake to get the eggs of the Bird of Paradise. Brother Keane, the Archangel of the Christian Brothers, captured me while ascending the wall behind the bogs. Before he could throw a tonne of bricks at me, I held up my hand and signalled to him to keep the peace because I couldn’t speak to him. I gently and delicately removed two eggs out of my mouth into the palm of my hand, much to Keane’s amazement. 
He indicated for me to go get gone before delivering the dreaded declaration, “You have earned your one-way ticket home.” In the years afterwards, I’ve earned quite several tickets, but Lady Luck has always been on my side, and they have never sent me home.
Mr. James came over to say hello as I was remembering at the refectory, and our talk focussed on the concerning monsoon conditions. This year’s rains started late, and we have gotten little rain; if the scenario continues, it will be difficult for us Abuites, as they only provided us with water every three days and for just two hours. Amen! If the rain gods do not favour this Abode in the next weeks, it will be back to bathing twice a week for the next year. I recall the excitement of washing one’s self to one’s heart’s content flat in three minutes every Thursday and Sunday. Every time we left the general bathing area after the two days, we felt like newborn babies. You won’t believe it, but there were some guys who attempted bunking and getting their twice-weekly baths if it was workable. Whew!

When I looked at the primary field, it intrigued me to see the servants hard preparing the field for the field and track activities that would signal the school’s sports day on September 29, 2008. I’m sure all St.Marians will remember with fondness the thrill of competing against other teams for the coveted prizes and the “COCK HOUSE “the overall winning team. 

September is a month of work, tears, and excitement for the lads because it brings out the best in everyone, including the staff, servants, boys, and Princey. With the guys singing on stage for the Annual Concert, followed the next day by the school’s Annual Sports Day, the Olympics fade into obscurity. The lads truly put on a show, and I can assure you that their performances are on par with, if not better than, those of the pros in the Olympics.

I enjoyed this time of year because it brought out the best in me. To date, NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE has beat the schoolboys at the open school relay put out to the public; I wonder how the Olympic champions would do on St. Mary’s soil.

I’ve included a couple of photos above that I’m sure will evoke sentimental recollections of days gone by. Enjoy your watching!