In and around...

Took leave from Thursday last week.
Spent a whopping time with friends and family, who had come in from Cal and Chennai. Evening trips to Singhagarh, Khadakvasla and Mulshi lakes. The son-et-lumiere under a star-studded sky at Shaniwarwada - listening in awe to the tales of Maratha valour. Continuing Pune darshan with visits to Crossword, Either-Or, the Bombay Store, Dorabjee’s, Kayani Bakery, a stroll down M G Road and drives through the Junglee Maharaj Road and Pune University.

We enjoyed Continental brunch at The German Bakery and fine dining at Malaka Spice (Oriental cuisine with Indian wine) and Trishna (seafood - Seer, prawns, crab and lobster). And of course, a 7pm to 4am jam at my place Saturday night, complete with music (Clapton, Pink Floyd, Cactus, Chandrabindu, Bob Marley, Rabbi, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Mohineyr Ghoraguli, Eagles, Nusrat, Anjan et al), beer, wine, tea, cold-beverages, assorted tit-bits and fries, daal, prawns, mutton, paayesh and chutney…

Renewed hopes of hindi chini bhai-bhai amidst the hype of signing accords, including one to settle border disputes between the two countries.

For all those who share my weakness for chocolate - it is reported to be also sweet for the heart - a claim which appear to be corroborated in labs.

Continuing on my earlier life and death theme - a Nazi Army officer who saved hundreds of Jews in Lithuania during he Holocaust, has been honoured in Israel.

Had picked up Bill Bryson’s “A Short History Of Nearly Everything” from the Crossword bookstore, couple of months ago. Not that i have been able to read a whole lot of it by now. I didn’t know that it had gone on, to become the winner of the Aventis Prize for Science Books last year. The Aventis Prize, awarded since 1988, is often dubbed the scientific community's Booker Prize.

Do you have to sleep in the comforting protection of a mosquito net? i don’t, not after moving out of Cal - but news reports suggest that I ought to. They say, malaria never dies out, it hides! It’s time to find the right cannons to fire...