Dear Children,
Most of you must be wondering as to what is so serious about the Bluebottles that the football match scheduled for today had to be cancelled. Well,Sudhanshu kaka was going to write about it but his internet is not functioning , so I am trying to explain in layman's words.
Despite its outward appearance, the bluebottles are not truly jelly fish. they have venomous tools. When they are touched, they inject the venom into the intruders body. This leads to severe allergies in humans and it can even be fatal.
Some newspapers have reported these bluebottles being sighted on the beaches of mumbai. It is rare for only a single bluebottle to be found; the discovery of one usually indicates the presence of many as they are usually congregated by currents and winds into groups of thousands. Given their sting , they must always be treated with caution. In other countries, their spotting in large numbers may lead to the beaches being cordoned off.
We parents really regret to cancell the scheduled programme but safety being of paramount importance we cannot take any chances.
For more information on Bluebottles, please visit this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Man_o'_War,
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Listening to Poetry on a rainy, Sunday morning.
A few weeks ago, aai purchased an audio book from Crossword for me. "Listening to Poetry", it said. Somehow, the book remained forgotten until today morning. As usual, there was no sign of the newspaper boy, and it being a Sunday morning, we didn't have anything else to do. I suddenly remembered the audio book and asked aai and baba if they wanted to go through it. "Sure, why not", they said enthusiastically and I brought it from my room. The book is a collection of different poems by different poets and has been recorded in the voices of excellent orators like Naseeruddin Shah, Gareth Armstrong, Shernaz Patel and Dhritiman Chaterji. The poems themselves are by a variety of poets, varying from Shakespere to Sujata Bhatt. The combination of beautiful poems read by amazing voices to a background of some really appropriate music had us captivated from the first strings of the violin to the last thud of the drums. The voices of the readers blended perfectly with the music. The poems were sheer masterpieces. Each poem had a preceding paragraph about the poets. It helped us understand each poem better. Words were played with, lines were perfectly in metre and it was all topped off by an introduction passage at the beginning, trying to define poetry. We really loved the experience and we want to share it with you all.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Road Map for 31st July Mansoon Football
Hi everybody,
It seems a lot of people are going to come and have requested for a road map to reach there. I have drawn the same for your reference.
thanks see you....
Sunday, July 24, 2011
A book review
As some of you may know, I am currently doing a course in Speech and Drama + Communication skills that the Trinity College of London offers. Every year, I appear for an exam that gets me to the next level. One of the parts in my exam this year has me to talk about a book or a movie that I read/liked. I'm sure most of us teenagers remember the story Hana's Suitcase. I had really liked that book and, soon after, I read the Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank. It is about this book that I am going to speak. I would really appreciate your views about my talk. Please read it.
The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
The Diary of a Young Girl is a collection of letters that young Anne Frank wrote to her diary, Kitty. Anne was a normal, cheerful, popular, inquisitive 13 year old. She was also a Jew. Let me remind you, this was the time of the Jewish Holocaust. Anne’s family knew that they were not safe anymore. They too decided to go into hiding, shortly after Anne’s 13th birthday. They were soon settled in a safe place, that is, the attic of Anne’s father’s office building. Very few people were aware of this. For the next two years, they lived here hidden from the rest of the world, with just one other Jewish family for company. It was here that Anne wrote in her diary. She wrote about their day to day life, the problems they faced and the small fun they sometimes had. Anne felt very lonely sometimes, and she confided in her diary completely. Reading her diary is like peeping into her mind. Soon, from sympathizing with her, I began to empathize with her.
Sometimes Anne wrote about more serious topics. She would write about her distress over the condition of Jews around the world. She sometimes felt guilty because she found it unfair that while they were so safe, other Jews were dying like flies. Sometimes, she would write in despair about her loss to understand Hitler’s hatred for people like them. She even wondered at times if it was bad that they were Jews.
She always wrote with optimism. Her sentences nearly always began with, “When we get out…”, and not “if”. If nothing else, her love for writing would compel her to write stories and poems in different languages she was learning in the Secret Annex (that is what they called their hideout).
She was a very spunky girl. She would put up with a smile with whatever hardships they had to bear, may it be meager rations, living like mice in silence, not having enough space for herself, etc. She had, however, thought her mother did not understand her and often had violent fights with her. She loved her all the same.
About two years had passed in their Secret Annex. The british troops were advancing, and the Franks were counting the days to the end of their imprisonment. There was hope all around. Suddenly, one day, the Secret Police got the wind of the Secret Annex, and they broke in. After that, it was over for the Frank family. Everyone was captured.
Otto, Anne’s father, was the only survivor from their family. After the war was over, he distributed copies of Anne’s diary among family and friends. He was urged to get it published. He did. After that, there was no looking back. Her diary was translated into 71 different languages and was adapted for television, theatre and film. Two of Anne’s biggest wishes were fulfilled. She wanted to be a writer, and live after death. Anne’s book also changed my perspective of life a little. I learnt to be happy with what I have. I think every youngster should read this book atleast once.
The Diary of a Young Girl is a collection of letters that young Anne Frank wrote to her diary, Kitty. Anne was a normal, cheerful, popular, inquisitive 13 year old. She was also a Jew. Let me remind you, this was the time of the Jewish Holocaust. Anne’s family knew that they were not safe anymore. They too decided to go into hiding, shortly after Anne’s 13th birthday. They were soon settled in a safe place, that is, the attic of Anne’s father’s office building. Very few people were aware of this. For the next two years, they lived here hidden from the rest of the world, with just one other Jewish family for company. It was here that Anne wrote in her diary. She wrote about their day to day life, the problems they faced and the small fun they sometimes had. Anne felt very lonely sometimes, and she confided in her diary completely. Reading her diary is like peeping into her mind. Soon, from sympathizing with her, I began to empathize with her.
Sometimes Anne wrote about more serious topics. She would write about her distress over the condition of Jews around the world. She sometimes felt guilty because she found it unfair that while they were so safe, other Jews were dying like flies. Sometimes, she would write in despair about her loss to understand Hitler’s hatred for people like them. She even wondered at times if it was bad that they were Jews.
She always wrote with optimism. Her sentences nearly always began with, “When we get out…”, and not “if”. If nothing else, her love for writing would compel her to write stories and poems in different languages she was learning in the Secret Annex (that is what they called their hideout).
She was a very spunky girl. She would put up with a smile with whatever hardships they had to bear, may it be meager rations, living like mice in silence, not having enough space for herself, etc. She had, however, thought her mother did not understand her and often had violent fights with her. She loved her all the same.
About two years had passed in their Secret Annex. The british troops were advancing, and the Franks were counting the days to the end of their imprisonment. There was hope all around. Suddenly, one day, the Secret Police got the wind of the Secret Annex, and they broke in. After that, it was over for the Frank family. Everyone was captured.
Otto, Anne’s father, was the only survivor from their family. After the war was over, he distributed copies of Anne’s diary among family and friends. He was urged to get it published. He did. After that, there was no looking back. Her diary was translated into 71 different languages and was adapted for television, theatre and film. Two of Anne’s biggest wishes were fulfilled. She wanted to be a writer, and live after death. Anne’s book also changed my perspective of life a little. I learnt to be happy with what I have. I think every youngster should read this book atleast once.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Mansoon football
Hi Everybody,
This is Karan. I'm glad that you guy's are interested in playing football for a get together and have put that responsibility on me for arranging the game.
As discussed with Mahesh uncle, the get together / game will be held at Juhu on 31st July at 3.30 p.m. Since its a rainy season, I suggest as below:
1) A pair of clothes (shorts/track pant and t-shirt for the game & a formal dress)
2) Shoes for the game (Slipper / Sandal thereafter to loosen the feet)
3) Water bottle & Glucon - D
4) towel
5) Snacks ( Bread Butter, etc but no oily stuff)
6) First aid box will be provided
7) Plastic bag for the wet clothes
Further, we will also arrange some games for the parents also. It will be fun. Please confirm your participation to Mahesh Uncle at the earliest. You may also put forward your suggestion to make this event a grand succes. Please don't forget to bring camera to capture the moments.
see you bye ......
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Colourful river
A Post from Anil Ajoba:
The Most Colourful River In The World
The river shown in the photographs above is the CARISTALES, which is located near the town of La Macarena in Colombia , South America .
This river is world famous for its colourful display n has been called "THE RIVER THAT RAN AWAY TO PARADISE ". This is the most beautiful river in the world and the only river of five colours.
During Colombia 's wet season, the water flows fast and deep, obscuring the bottom of the river and denying the mosses and algae that call the river home the sun that they need. During the dry season there is not enough water to support the dazzling array of life in the river. But during a brief span between the wet and dry seasons, when the water level is just right, the many varieties of algae and moss bloom in a dazzling display of colours. Blotches of amarillo , blue, green, black and red - and a thousand shades in between - coat the river.
The part of the river where the colourful blooms occur is quite isolated and is not accessible by road. Adventurous tourists can now fly into La Macarena and then make their way to to the river site on foot as part of guided tours. The site was effectively closed to tourists for several years because of guerrilla activity in the region along with concerns about the impact of unregulated tourist traffic. However, the site was re-opened to visitors in 2009.
This river is world famous for its colourful display n has been called "THE RIVER THAT RAN AWAY TO PARADISE ". This is the most beautiful river in the world and the only river of five colours.
During Colombia 's wet season, the water flows fast and deep, obscuring the bottom of the river and denying the mosses and algae that call the river home the sun that they need. During the dry season there is not enough water to support the dazzling array of life in the river. But during a brief span between the wet and dry seasons, when the water level is just right, the many varieties of algae and moss bloom in a dazzling display of colours. Blotches of amarillo , blue, green, black and red - and a thousand shades in between - coat the river.
The part of the river where the colourful blooms occur is quite isolated and is not accessible by road. Adventurous tourists can now fly into La Macarena and then make their way to to the river site on foot as part of guided tours. The site was effectively closed to tourists for several years because of guerrilla activity in the region along with concerns about the impact of unregulated tourist traffic. However, the site was re-opened to visitors in 2009.
From Lata aaji
Dear Children
These days we meet once a month and I miss you every single day after that; however some of you meet me on the blog and that makes me happy. How happy !! you would know only when you grow old like me.
These days I often like to think about the things that make me happy. The pleasures I enjoyed have changed from time to time.But the things that made me happy have somehow remained more or less constant. What makes me happy? Priority wise it is children and children of any age. I love flowers, fragrances, stars, moon, ocean. The list is unending. It is easier to say what makes me unhappy. Anything that makes someone else unhappy or makes the person experience some kind of exploitation makes me unhappy
One of my most favourite things is poetry. Songs too make me feel happy. I often like to share some of the things with you. Just yesterday, Anilajoba and I enjoyed some of the old english songs of our times. One of them was " Just the way you are" by Billy Joel. I remembered an anecdote about the song. Bill's mother loved him immensely when he was a small baby. Bill used to go out of his way to please her and make her happy. To that she would always say " I love you just as you are" You need not bother to change at all for that. You are as beautiful as one could ever be and I love you from the bottom of my heart. Bill grew up with these words.
Later when he started writing songs he wrote
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.
I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
Here is the song composed by him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ounJsqomcv8
Lots of love
Lata aaji
These days we meet once a month and I miss you every single day after that; however some of you meet me on the blog and that makes me happy. How happy !! you would know only when you grow old like me.
These days I often like to think about the things that make me happy. The pleasures I enjoyed have changed from time to time.But the things that made me happy have somehow remained more or less constant. What makes me happy? Priority wise it is children and children of any age. I love flowers, fragrances, stars, moon, ocean. The list is unending. It is easier to say what makes me unhappy. Anything that makes someone else unhappy or makes the person experience some kind of exploitation makes me unhappy
One of my most favourite things is poetry. Songs too make me feel happy. I often like to share some of the things with you. Just yesterday, Anilajoba and I enjoyed some of the old english songs of our times. One of them was " Just the way you are" by Billy Joel. I remembered an anecdote about the song. Bill's mother loved him immensely when he was a small baby. Bill used to go out of his way to please her and make her happy. To that she would always say " I love you just as you are" You need not bother to change at all for that. You are as beautiful as one could ever be and I love you from the bottom of my heart. Bill grew up with these words.
Later when he started writing songs he wrote
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.
I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
Here is the song composed by him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ounJsqomcv8
Lots of love
Lata aaji
stages of red pierrot
first stage of cacoon
the final product
cacoon
caterpillar
Recently we had 8 caterpillars who made their cacoons. One of them died because of unknown causes. But the rest lived to turn into butterflies. I glimsped only 3 as i had school and other activities. The last couple of butterflies were the ones which I photographed. first stage after the egg hatches is the caterpillar which goes into the leaf and starts eating the leaf. Tired of eating the caterpillar goes into a deep sleep in a cover around it called a cacoon. After the cacoon turns black the cacoon turns black and after a day or two a lovely the a small life comes out.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Proposed programmes for July / August 2011
Hi folks !
Guess what ….
While I just read Aniruddha expressing his feelings on rains…do it today and now “KAL HO NA HO !”
So here are two suggestions :
With monsoon in its full swing… we can also let loose ourselves for few of hours on two occasions.
1. How about a Monsoon football match ?? on a beach..
31st July, Sunday at 3.30 pm, venue - Juhu beach. ( exact spot will be notified later ).. let us all get togather and let loose the Bhutia, Pele and Messi in us.
Even if any one of us have not played earlier, there is always a first time and we will have proper guidance provided for by our own Pele… "Karan Thakur"
In case, if we don’t know, Karan has been playing football since his childhood and has represented his institution in various games.
AND, for those who feel, Football is not their cup of tea, they could try themselves with other sporting activities as well.. This means, all in all ( Parents and teenagers ) of the teenager shibir group are welcome to join and enjoy the Sunday ‘s sporting event.
Shortly Karan Thakur via a separate post will update the details of the logistics and games. All are requested to confirm your participation on 24th July in the shibir for necessary arrangements.
2. A city walk….Jungle pher fatka .. A walk around the greens in the company of learned experts who will share their knowledge about the greenery that exist in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on 7th August , Sunday at 8.00 am.
This tour is being coordinated by Nulkar family. They will, via a separate post explain the details of same. All are requested to confirm their participation on 24th July in the shibir for necessary arrangements.
Mahesh
Guess what ….
While I just read Aniruddha expressing his feelings on rains…do it today and now “KAL HO NA HO !”
So here are two suggestions :
With monsoon in its full swing… we can also let loose ourselves for few of hours on two occasions.
1. How about a Monsoon football match ?? on a beach..
31st July, Sunday at 3.30 pm, venue - Juhu beach. ( exact spot will be notified later ).. let us all get togather and let loose the Bhutia, Pele and Messi in us.
Even if any one of us have not played earlier, there is always a first time and we will have proper guidance provided for by our own Pele… "Karan Thakur"
In case, if we don’t know, Karan has been playing football since his childhood and has represented his institution in various games.
AND, for those who feel, Football is not their cup of tea, they could try themselves with other sporting activities as well.. This means, all in all ( Parents and teenagers ) of the teenager shibir group are welcome to join and enjoy the Sunday ‘s sporting event.
Shortly Karan Thakur via a separate post will update the details of the logistics and games. All are requested to confirm your participation on 24th July in the shibir for necessary arrangements.
2. A city walk….Jungle pher fatka .. A walk around the greens in the company of learned experts who will share their knowledge about the greenery that exist in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on 7th August , Sunday at 8.00 am.
This tour is being coordinated by Nulkar family. They will, via a separate post explain the details of same. All are requested to confirm their participation on 24th July in the shibir for necessary arrangements.
Mahesh
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Autobiography of a wooden chair
HI FRIENDS!!
This is the first time I am contributing on chequebook.so,if any suggestions about my post, please comment.
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A WOODEN CHAIR
What do you think of the current state of mine?All those big people (human being they call themselves)are using me for sitting,standing and even sleeping sometimes.One of my friends said that some naughty children jumped over him and now he has a back ache ( a nasty one).
Sorry I forgot to introduce myself as I was deeply concerned by the situation. My name is Om.I have been in this room for years together. Oh!How lovely it was to be in my tree family.My family name is Bamboo.And see where I have landed up now.IN THE DUNGEONS!Let me tell you a brief flashback of my life.About 30 years ago,I was with my huge family in the forest of Kahna.All kinds of friends I had from squirrels to snakes and sparrows.They took shelter under our family.Everyday I could see the gleaming sun shining brilliantly at me and inspiring me to grow.How pleasant those days were! Then something disturbing happened.
It was in the month of July that the rains started.So we would have another generation in a family. I used to talk to my friends and brothers and sisters. On one of the days I was relaxing my arms and legs, When suddenly I heard something unusual to my leaves. It was the sound of one of the big people's machines. Although they passed in their so called cars, these cars were amazingly big than the normal ones. And it was our family they were heading to! Frankly I am very scared of such things. My friends tried to driving it away but in vein. It was now that I realised how fortunate it would be to have a pair of legs and a common language! Alas! Our days were over. And with a 'thud' the gigantic car came crashing into us. A little later we understood that they were to make a highway round there! And so we were taken away along with some centipedes and insects on our bodies. My mom and dad had known about this quite a while back, but they stood very calm. I was seriously upset about the happenings and asked my mom,"Mother, Is it necessary for them to chop us? Are they not sufficient with our relatives being taken away last time?" My mother said calmly,"It would have been sufficient, but their population is increasing and they are also becoming greedy. Our time to serve them with fruits and flowers is over. Now we will have to sacrifice our body also to serve them." I looked at mother anxiously and she smiled back at me.
The car came and stopped at a very huge gate. The watchman opened it and we proceeded. After reaching we were taken out and sent in a big tower like structure. After that I lost my senses for a while. When I returned into myself, I let out to huge cry as my mom & dad were separated from me. It was the worst thing to happen. As I consoled myself, I remembered mother's words. I looked at myself and noticed that I have been compressed with some other strangers of my kind. So we became friends. Then all of us were transferred. We were nailed and joined to some others. And as I gazed at our structure, we were exactly looking like one of those big people's seats which they called as 'chairs'. But we were a bit smaller in size. Then we were taken to a room which was full of chairs. It was a study room for children. Thus I landed up here. Since that day, we have been their seats. Some times I get hurt when someone jumps over me or fells me. Now I have more friends like me than before who were first a nature's part and now taken away.
Well! Thank you my friend for understanding my feelings. Some times I do get depressed at the loss of my mom & dad, But that is alright. Good Bye!!!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Rains
We all would be experiencing rain now.Rain must be annoying with drainage problems,mud everywhere ,traffic and how frustrating it would be when a car goes over water not far from you and you get wet from head to toe.But beside these there also a good side of rain too.Like the small puddles which you loved to make when you were very little.Or the rainbow you would have seen somewhere.But the most important how we still love to dance in rain.So just go outside when its raining and when you have ample time and enjoy every bit of it as we don't know- "KAL HO NA HO"
Friday, July 1, 2011
red pierrot catterpillar/above cacoon
praying mantis
spider
The news i am deliver you is the most wonderful newsfrom my side. We have 9 red pierrot catterpillar on our panfhutti. I exprienced the happiness when the hardwork pays off,with a reward which is in a form of life. Along with this a praying mantis as if the guard for the cacoon settled praying on the vebera plant.
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