On way to Allahabad

We took an impromtu decision to make a road trip to Allahabad on Nov 30th. The distance is approx 200kms from Lucknow and the incentive was to meet my Uncles/ Aunties and their families. My parents were ecsatic as they had been planning to make this trip on their own for quite some time. The road condition was better than I expected ( my parents thought otherwise). We stopped for lunch at Badhoi and dug into sandwiches and some terrible tea. The trip took 5 hrs and we enjoyed every bit of it. As I drove , i observed rural India. Though the markets were full the living conditions were what they were 40 yrs back. The dust , squalor and the hygenie conditions were what they were which was saddening but it felt wonderfull just driving through the places I had once been as a child.

SODE 51

This is addressed to all of SODE 51 ...

I figured I could not sneak away from India without meeting Colonel.. soo ..I drove seemingly for ever in my quest to reach the USI offices where the colonel was 'holed' up. To my surprise Mona was there too and they immediately sat me down for lunch at the USI and hence missed Mona's paratha's with butter ( rememberances from the SODE days) Colonel looked the same with his characterestic laugh & I quickly informed him that he ought to look more sterner as a CSO to be able to screw the shit out of the OC1's.
I was also able to meet briefly with Pai outside sena bvn canteen ,who did look like an ideal CSO ( huge blue berret & SD/ raybans and just the right amount of grey to suggest seniorty). Inspite of my best efforts to impress Pai he did find me as disorganized as ever as he looked on while i frantically searched in my car for the CSD cards/ wallet and all other things ( including my camera -- hence no pic) that suddenly seemed to have vanished ). I am sure he walked away thinking this is one guy "we" did well to keep away from the army.
Harry , was another one I could reach at Shimla. He informed me that he had not got around to Golf as yet. In view of your possible move to Cal, Harry-- you may want to try the Fort Williams Golf course--I did & I loved it.

...to all you Brig's, once you get to your appointed places of work-- put your noses down and lets see some great results & for the others -- hope you are having fun!! The new year is around the corner -- so happy holidays and best wishes for the new year.

Life @ B-95 Sect C, Mahanagar

The few days I was at Lucknow , I looked fwd to having my morning tea on the front verandah with my parents.

The single copy of Times of India was split between the three of us and my father was ready to provide a background to any news that I was trying to catch up with.

The garden as can be seen from the pic was all green and well trimmed , thanks to the new mali who actually seemed to have a "green" thumb. Immediately after tea I observed that both of them got extremly busy tending to house work and proceeding through a" retired day" in an extremly timely manner.

Incidently , though you find them wearing caps and woollens, the temp is around 15-18 celcius