CLOUD CITY

CLOUD CITY

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

17/IX/2023

We are already in ‘renaming mode’. This gave me an idea to change the name of our ‘Sun City’ to ‘Cloud City’. I would be metaphorically, politically, grammatically, physically, diplomatically, actually, and weatherly correct, if I suggest so.

Since May this year there has been a cloud cover. We are into September now and it is still raining. The forecast is for heavy rains in the next 48 hours. Who likes the sun scorching your back? Even plants start showing signs of ‘sunburns’ and ‘dehydration’. Good that the sun is covered with clouds.

As I walked out this morning with no agenda in mind, I found a lot of pots holding water from last night's torrential rain. Agenda was ready. The bottom hole of all such pots had to be opened. A few pots needed manure, others needed hoeing, some needed trimming and the rest were just happy flowering.

To my surprise, what I thought were dry neem leaves sticking to the veranda floor, were actually a ‘cornucopia’ of ‘Slugs’. Every pot had a couple of them sticking to their bottom. Many were crawling ‘sluggishly’ from Jodhpur to Ernakulam. Time taken by them to go across the veranda would be the same as what a train takes to reach JU from ERS.

It was not very soothing to the eyes. It looked like a ‘slugfest’ was on, though not literally. I let them be. One was careful not to crush them under the feet.

I had to take advantage of the rain. Trails of growing seedlings from seeds of various fruits we ate this summer had been successful. We had transferred each sprout to a nursery bag or an empty milk packet for ease of planting.

The principle of ‘Best out of Waste’ and reuse & re-reuse has been part of our lives. These plants had grown over a foot high and displayed good signs of growth. It was the ideal time to transfer them to the ground. To keep them under our close watch, we planted more than eight trees today in the vicinity of our home. May they farewell and bear fruit in times to come.

Saplings included Moringa/Drumstick, Mango, Ficus and Almond. A morning walker stopped by to appreciate our work. A small motivational talk and he promised to become an ‘environmental warrior’. This was not on my agenda, but the scope of work can always be extended if it does good.

That reminded me that we had sprouted Papaya seeds also. In the maze of pots, they had camouflaged themselves. Four healthy saplings were ready to be shifted to the ground. There being no space on our side, I utilized the neighbours plot, as that is also under our care. I kissed them and sent them to where they belonged.

This was the tastiest papaya one had had after coming to the Sun City. The seeds were scraped, washed, dried, and planted in soil two months ago. In another three to four months, we should have them bearing fruit exclusively for us.

All papaya plants don’t bear fruit. The ‘male’ flowers differently and doesn’t bear fruit. The ‘female’ does all the fruiting. Soon we shall have enough papaya to distribute amongst friends.

That reminded me that our neighbour's banana bunch had fallen with its tree which had snapped during one of the typhoons. We had kept the bunch safely to be handed over to them once they returned. Another task was completed with lots of smiles exchanged.

My day started at 5.30 am and when I sat to write all this, it was past 9.30 am. In between, I also fed my fish and admired the ‘Pistia’ plants. We had added a couple of them to our fish tank and within days they multiplied. Thanks to the extended rainy season.

What a hectic start to a day! Now I would rest the whole day, beaming with pride and feeling satisfied deep inside by adding a little greenery and saving some plastic going to a landfill. The cloud cover continues and rains are imminent. Time to enjoy the lovely environs of our 'Cloud City’. Can you suggest a better name? I wonder!!!!!!!!

JAI HIND