LT COL NOEL
ELLIS
04/IX/2025
It is fun to write my blog. It helps me muster my thoughts, enjoy a few
events, funny and not so funny situations, something different and unique which
touches my life. It is enough to trigger memories and finally it translates
into an article. So here goes……
People ask “kis Chakki ka khate ho”. Our Chakki is located in the local
‘dhaan mandi’. I also pick up ‘bajra’ for the birds from there. This time I had
to be specific, “Bajri chaije, peesiora koni chaije”. During last visit, by the
time we returned to the milling area, he had ground the bajra seeds.
As we were driving home, there is a Mela on the roadside. Village folk
sell rock salt, lassan-pyaj in trolley loads, huge teddy bears, plastic chairs
and water tubs. A few vegetable and fruit shops have also mushroomed alongside.
My mind was working on my waterlily tub which had been badly damaged in
a storm recently. It has cracked and holds the best of my fish and waterlily
plants. It can give up any day and needs a replacement.
We stopped at a place. A lady in full Marwari attire called ‘Ghaghra
Lugdi’ joined us. My wife picked up a small shallow container with a stand. We
both felt the need to buy it as a bird bath. Our earlier one broke. Birds were
bathing in their water container.
I asked the lady the price of a biggish tub. She said, “nau sau rupiyo”.
I returned it to its place in the same motion I had picked it up, like we have
a ‘Jaise the’ movement in drill. I had bought tubs earlier and they did not
cost more than 350 bucks. This was exorbitant. I remembered Nirmala tai
instantly. It must be the taxes.
I had a closer look at the price tag. It read 750/-. I brought that to
her notice and she put her hand on her mouth and started giggling. We have to
quote a higher price as people bargain a lot here. “Aap kya doge, boni ro time
hai”, she said. We did not commit anything and said goodbye. It was better to
check out another stall before we became a ‘tony for her boni’.
It rained very heavily in the evening. When I went out to feed the fish,
there was chaos on the window sill. That is where we keep fish food container
and succulent pots. They were on the floor. One pot was smashed and lay
shattered. A cat with her litter is after it. The smell of fish food is the
attraction. This morning, we found that she had carried that container away.
Never mind, we will keep the food safely somewhere else.
A morning walker friend of ours informed me that there was a vintage car
parked in the colony. The way he described it, I thought it would be a Morris
Minor or a Hillman. One of our Richie rich aunties used to own those. One had
to go out and have a dekho. It was a ‘Standard 8’. She looked so pretty and
graceful. My camera had to capture this vintage beauty.
Now that I was out with my camera. A visit to the temple near the
waterfront could not be missed. All along the path, a white bell shaped flower
was adorning the route. It is called “Dhatura” in the local language. It grows
wild in this season. What caught my attention was it’s bristled fruit. Water
droplets sticking to the fruit stood out prominently.
A vine with lots of bristles was spreading on the fence. It looked so
lovely with its prickly stems. When one goes outdoors there is a chance to
catch such views.
Just then, on a dry tree, which has always given me some fantastic bird
photos, a “Hoopoe” flew in and perched. I could just take one shot. I adjusted
my position but she got alarmed and flew away.
This bird was so common in our gardens in childhood. Now it is rare to
spot. It has a long and pointed beak with a beautiful crown on its head. This
was the first time I had seen this bird near our colony. They enjoy pulling out
worms and insects from the ground. I hope I get to take better pictures of her
soon.
Home was calling as it was breakfast time. The events which happened
were so engrossing that they had to be penned down. What else would go into the
daily log? I wonder!!!!!!
JAI HIND
©® NOEL
ELLIS
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