I’ve seen clay being fashioned into pottery on TV several times. This was my first live demo. We saw this in Kumarakom by a local potter. It was much more breathtaking seeing the real thing! It took about 10 minutes to transform the ugly lump of clay into beautiful pottery – deft touches of his hand, careful molding, a flick of his wrist and the transformation was complete. Each touch made it more complete and more beautiful. I couldn’t help but think of the bible verseIsaiah 64:8Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.And the song that sprang to my mind was Potters Hand“Take me,…

Vacation time!! Finally Becky and I were on the train to Kottayam and were picked up at the station by a cab and late in the morning we reached Kumarakom – the enchanting backwaters of Kerala. What followed was an amazing mixture of luxury, a feeling of royalty, merging one with nature and hours of just ogling at nature. Imagine 28 cottages spread over 17 acres of garden, canals and bridges. And then imagine – we were the only people there. We were treated like royalty! The cottages were quaint, the gardens lush green (in the middle of summer!) and the pool inviting. We felt like a King and a Queen with people to serve us food of our choice,…

Stage 1:Period: College DaysThe lowest waist size (28) available was still too loose.Solution: Alter the pants and then wear them.Alternative solution: Go to a kids store!Stage 2:Period: Post collegeSize 28 fits!!A whole new world of comfort and fashion opens up!! Stage 3:Period: Present days (post marriage)Today I walked into a clothes store to buy cargoes and unbelievably – size 28 did NOT fit. With trembling hands and a thundering heart I took out a size 30 cargoes and stepped nervously into the trial room. A few moments later I stepped out – the size 30 fit perfectly.My mind flew through the past 15 years – altering pants, using a belt, then slowly noticing that the pants were tight after a…

As the best husband in the world I will now run you through a crash course on how to impress your wife in 5 minutes! Follow these steps carefully!Lesson 1:1. Arrive home from work 15 minutes before your wife (The hardest part!)2. Boil some water, add the tea leaves, add some milk and sugar – i.e. make some tea (If you can’t do this step you’re in trouble dude!)3. Look at wedding gifts received and pick out the cute blue tea set with a cute tea pot and cute small cups (Duh…. didnt you get one on your wedding??!!)4. Set it up just in time to hear the doorbell ring.5. Give cute wife warm hug (she needs one after a…

Yo guys… I did it again today…. twice!We were off to church and I quietly passed the turning we had to take – 100 metres before Becky brought it to my notice. U-turn and there was the turning… 10 meters behind me! I had overshot again. Two rights do not make a right – this is ample proof of that saying. Five minutes later we were in church…. just in time for a closing prayer!! Duh…. whats happening!! Luckily we learnt that it was the Youth meeting that was just getting over and that the Church service would start in five minutes!Now thats too many double-surprises to take in one evening! But then as expected we had a blessed time…

If you believe in something strongly and stand for it come-what-may it’ a fact that life wont be easy for you. You gotta be ready to stare death in the face – stare at humiliation, opposition, resistance and mockery eyeball to eyeball. I wonder if I have the strength and the guts and the courage to do that for something I believe in. Will my faith stand strong – or will it break like a dry twig? If I wanna make a difference….. I gotta be more strong…. till the end.This is how the apostles stood….. till their ends!Matthew Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound. Mark Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the…

I guess you know by now that it’s the car. Last night saw the poor 800cc, 4-wheeled Maruti having his motor cleaned and then he needed a temporary pace-maker while his own battery got charged! And today morning he sprang back to life – I wasn’t very happy with the sound as it wasn’t as chirpy as his usual self. I still feel he may be having some undiagnosed problem with his wiring or that complicated array of stuff under his bonnet – but for now…. he looks like he’ll make it!

Ain’t that a great, weird combo! Here’s the storyThe afternoon saw me riding on the scooter riding to ABT Maruti to check the car out. He said it was the battery that had conked. But poor me – scooting around under the searing heat of the sun – FIRE!The evening saw Becky and me checking out a new restaurant in Trichy that served great burgers and fried chicken (KFC beware!). The name of the restaurant – FLAMES!We left the restaurant and were greeted by a strong gust that churned the dust and blinded our eyes – WIND !And then to top off the element-filled day thunder rolled and soon we were drenched – RAIN!Finally late in the night Beckys mom…

Fortunately I’m not referring to a patient! Unfortunately I’m referring to the car – the first attempt to use it in Trichy and thats all it did! Eerie silence followed and my heart sank. My mind is now thinking of the worst case scenario – is it a total breakdown? Will it need an organ transplant? Does it need some fluids? Do we need a specialist opinion? Is the illness self-limiting? Are its vital nerves affected? Is its heart failing? Thats my way of looking at a faulty car – I wonder….. and mentally I look at my bank balance! Wish the car could speak……

Today was the day Appa and Amma finally flew to the US via Dubai! Becky and I helped do the final packing and rearranging and finally through the lost keys, gifts, medicines and meals we had 2 big suitcases and 2 hand baggages looking neat and tidy. We double-checked everything at home and around midnight went to the airport. I was a tad nervous as I was worried that the queues would be long and Appa and Amma had no help. But a few minutes after we bid farewell Appa called and said that as they were senior citizens they were given priority and never waited in any of the queues! At 2 AM we drove back to Trichy –…