Cooking fish in Pilerne, Goa.

We decided on the spur of the moment to drive down to Goa. A friend had told me Goa and the  villages were safer through COVID than staying in Bangalore and with COVID in the building, we decided to skedaddle. So backpacks were out and a food basket and hot coffee was packed, like my Mum did, and off we went. 5 am is a great time to drive, as we shook off the crazy traffic of Bangalore city.

Bhujang the caretaker was at the house waiting for us when we arrived. Doors and windows must be o pen and all fans and lights must be on for him. Water was running , toilets were sparkling and this time he had to wait longer than normal ,as we took the circuitous Chorla Ghat route to avoid the derelict Karwar road.

 

In the morning we were awoken by the raucous and familiar calls of the Golden Oriole, along with the Oriental Magpie Robins calling out in the massive teak trees, surrounding the homestead. While I sat out with my buttered poi and cup of chai on Dads favorite bench in the verandah, A peace which I never know or enjoy in Bangalore descended on my mind and I forgot about all things nasty back home.Steve was persuaded to come along with us. 

So the next morning he was off with Bonny, my husband to  buy some fish from the massive government fish market we frequented in Verem, --the reason why we can never eat frozen fish.Never tastes the same.

But my mouth nearly touched the floor when I saw the men come home with a massive seer fish, a kg of King Prawns and three good looking pomfret. Their gills were bright red so we knew they were fresh, but that was all I knew. I had never cleaned a whole fish before. My MIL had taught me to clean prawns and my grandma, to neatly cut up and skin a chicken. But seer fish and pomfret never!

“ Oh! What's the problem Mum?” said the YouTube generation Steve. “ Wait, lets watch a video and copy it.” In minutes we had slit the pomfret and easily cleaned out it’s innards. Scraping off a few scales, I washed it well, salted and haldied it and spread a generous layer of rechardo masala out of  a packet on them with a squish of fresh sour lime.

Then placing six large slices of the fish on some bubbling oil in Dad's non-stick pan, I seared it on high heat on both sides, to keep the meat firm. Then I took out my sister's lovely skillet from Australia and made a sauce in it with onions, tomatoes and ginger garlic paste. Then I placed the slices into the sauce and let it simmer on slow for a while before turning the slices.

The rest of the huge fish went into the fridge for us to use over the next few days. We devoured a whole pomfret each, again simmered in the pan, till they were done on both sides. Nothing like enjoying fresh fish and also fish that is less boneless and easy to clean.

I always take the prawns out into the verandah to clean, so Steve learned from me how to clean the king prawns , both shelling, and de-heading and finally de-veining them. Took us a good one hour, but I am particular that  they are done well.The heads you boil and make a stock, said my chef friends, so for the first time I did!

We ate fish like there was no tomorrow for the ten days we were in Pilerne. It’s hard living in the old homestead as it's closed for most of the year, but we got Bhujang to bang the rafters on the first day and sweep out large mounds of mud,courtesy the white ant infiltrators. Beastly things who ensure we have work every single time we visit.

Because of the rain which did not worry us as it only rained at night, we got men in to clean the head tall grass which had leapt up at the back. We have learned to get daily wage labour instead of contractors from Dad and so the job works out cheaper  and better as we supervise it. The grass will grow back once you leave, warned Bhujang, but we could not live in the house with the fear of snakes in that grass.

The men could not be quiet,as Covid kept them village bound. So tins of black and blue paint were bought and the two gates were painted black and the grilles of the lower part of the house painted blue. This time we found Dad's fridge door getting ‘’eaten “ by the rust and considering that it probably is 15 years old, that's a good innings. Before we leave we clean it up, wipe it down and switch it off leaving the door open to dry out.

Ten days was too little. The silence and peace of the village was a balm to my soul. I could feel the ancestors around me in the old and ancient homestead calming my agitation which the creepy spouses of siblings bring. They have no idea about a property we grew up in and I am grateful they don't have their grabbing fingers here as well.

Three of us pay towards the upkeep of the house as per Dad and Mum's wills which is hard, but it’s a promise to keep. 

Sit back & wait -- till Karma hits

 

I have been suffering sadly with a lot of lies being spread about me in the building by two spouses whom my parents were unhappy with. As the eldest I supported my parents in everything, including their dislike of these two. So once my parents passed, the hate was transferred to me.

Endless run ins with lies which were so obviously just that, but over the years they harassed me with. Living in a building with them has been a nightmare as my other siblings don't live in the country. If I had their support it would have been happier.

It began  a couple of years ago over the siblings daughter’s pals from college. They would come into the building and park their motorbikes in front of the GF apartment.Then when it was time to leave they would start the bikes, spewing dirty lead laden smoke into the GF apartment. No requests were heeded, instead they brought in more bikes to annoy.

One evening we had come home from a trip to enjoy dosas at Konarak restaurant on the top of the road. Walking down the road we slipped into the gate and nearly fell over a girl sitting bang in the lobby on the floor. Nearly tripping over her and her bag and books spread out, I asked whom she had come to see and she said she was waiting for the relatives to return.

I requested her to sit on the third floor steps to avoid being hurt with people coming and going in the lobby area and then just went into our apartment. The next thing I knew was she had told the relatives that I had wanted to kick her out of the gate at 8pm -- obviously playing on the woman in danger rhetoric. As a lecturer in college that was a damaging statement on my credentials, and I fought back. But I had to finally accept and swallow the lies.   

The next problem I faced was their GF tenant was near the gate with her dogs which were loose, when I returned from college.I am diabetic and for many years were asking them to leash their dogs in the common areas. She refused, something she would not do by law back in her home country. The dogs came towards me when I stepped back to listen to her tirade and I shooed them away with my bag. The next thing I know was she hit me across my head and face. The mistake I made was to say I would complain to the police. She played her immunity card and got the cops to frame a civil and criminal case against me.

I had to take it to the High Court to get the matter quashed. Harassment was the idea and nothing else.  It was hard and was an emotional roller coaster for me. Never having faced the law ever and this time it was a completely fake case. Luckily the principal of the college called me and gave me the name of an excellent lawyer to use to fight my case. A lawyer who took Media law classes in college -- cocky and brash and so angry that they were bullying me. In a week he had the case dismissed. Egg on their face which they did not like.

Again it was too quiet for them to bear and so the loutish BIl decided to take all the draws from a stand from our ad agency, kept by my husband in the basement, and throw them into a bin. The security informed us or we would not have been aware and would have lost the draws if thrown away in the trash. Knowing his crude and nasty ways we just picked up the draws and put them back. I had called a scrap dealer to come and buy the stand rather than have any more run-ins with him.

The next thing we knew was there was huge screaming and yelling in the basement by my brother and his tamilian wife and this loutish man and my sister-- his wife. The screaming said they could see CCTV footage where I had taken a draw and dinged his car. Wow! What else was I to face?? Dinged his car?? There was a tiny line on the side of his car which he swore I had done. I just walked away, fed up of his childishness. The CCTV showed me carrying the draw which he swore I hit his car with. To what depths was the man going to sink I wondered?

Silence cannot reign, they have to keep harassing me. So the next EVENT that the two of them cooked up was that I took pictures of the GF tenant. A huge screaming event outside my door saying I was so jealous of their tenants! I just shut the door on their faces after recording them and sent them a lawyers notice. They had landed at my door now, I was tired of it. I have the video, I can make it criminal whenever I want to says my lawyer.

What was the screaming about you may ask? I had taken pictures of their wonderful tenant apparently !! I wondered if I was hearing right, pictures of an old silly lady with dogs, she really had an ego problem and the money she was paying the brother and SIl obviously was enough to set them off.    

 Tired and pretty fed up I yelled at my Dad and grandfather at night. I ‘spoke’ to them and said, ‘what the hell are you guys doing and allowing these people to harass me??’ 

Then I cam down for my regular run early morning to learn that the loutish BIL’s daughter had parked her car on the road where work is going on. The crews work at night, through the night as in the day, regular traffic impedes them. They are terribly disturbing but there is no other time that they can work. Imagine the ego of the girl to park her car on the road in front of the gate and walk away!

The security guy told her to climb the pavement slightly and park, as huge earth movers go up and down all night working, but she did not bother. Sometime early in the morning the earth mover or some truck must have brushed the side of the car and smashed off the mirror and the side window glass into smithereens.Pretty hefty damage.

With all the noise of the work happening no one realised what had occurred and so it was only when the lout took his dogs for a walk early morning at 3:30am did he notice the damage and went ballistic.

I guess Dad heard my requests and so did Grandpa. I was tired of being bullied and harassed. Peace reigns for now as I guess he is licking his wounds. Dad PLEASE keep a watch over me, I cant deal with these two nasty people alone. 

The birth of iBrowse

 

Once upon a time 12 years ago, I had a dream to start a book club. But a friend began it first, no problem, and we all met in a coffee shop in Garuda mall. Sadly the coffee shop was full of other clients as well and was difficult for us all to hear ourselves, but the idea was born.

So, mulling over the idea I thought why not ask the Catholic Club about starting a book club in the library and the Library MIC then was a very affable Gerald Lobo. I put it across to him and funnily enough since the Managing Committee was meeting that evening he asked me to meet them in the BoardRoom. Francisco Saldanha was the then President and even though I had no idea about how I was going to handle the evening -- they readily agreed.

So the first meeting began with no name. I had decided to call in an author as Guest author for the evening and he or she could introduce their book to an audience of readers. Then I asked the club library to buy 5 books of one particular book that I selected to read for the month. Then after the author left, we all got together to discuss the book.

What fireworks, what fun! When readers get together sparks will fly as each one sees the book in a different light. I will never forget Fifty Shades  of Grey as I ordered it seeing it fill the shelves in Waterstones in the Heathrow airport! I had both horrified readers, readers like me who could not go beyond the first few pages and readers who called me asking for the two sequels to be bought! They loved it.  

The book club was called iBrowse -- a name which was a combination of two members' ideas. Happily it grew from strength to strength and by the time I resigned from handling it, it was EIGHT years old. It was doing brilliantly well, hosting authors like Wendell Rodricks and lots of other big names who even flew in from London. The club generously served us coffee and biscuits -- well to be honest 10 by two coffees and ten by two teas and we did alright. We gifted a plant from the club to the author as a token of appreciation and that's how it went for eight long years.

I began to invite my students whom I taught in St. Joseph’s College, for the book club from the second year.The simple reason the MIC said you do so much work, lets have a house full. Thats why iBrowse is the only programme open to outsiders as members are not really readers. So many students tell me today their interest has grown because I gave them their first experience of interacting with an author. Ofcourse I added a 5 mark assignment mark to those who attended and many wrote about their experience later. They were tomorrow's makers and animators, and naturally they needed to know how to write. Obviously if you don't read, how can you write? 

Sadly I had to face illogical flak over inviting the kids from a couple of disgruntled members according to my loutish BIL. Makes me laugh today to see the MIC of the library is now the Principal of a college and has invited the college kids to participate in a webinar. That’s till another round of disgruntled members who can't do anything themselves rear their ugly heads!

I resigned from  handling the Book Club and gifted it to the club on a platter. Ofcourse they did not run it like an academic like me would and so it became an event which I was not interested in. 

In a month I began my own book club called Book Bound, which meets in Kafnu a lovely business space on Richmond Road. It also met in our old home on Castle Street which had turned into a restaurant called Nossa Goa. Kafnu was given to me free of cost by a student who ran the place. We had a number of stylish events there.

Once COVID releases us from its clutches BOOK BOUND will restart meeting again. But until then, we have Microsoft WEBEX monthly events hosted by one of our members who works for CISCO.

    

Online classes bane or boon?

                                       One of the assignments in a session

 The question being raised is -- are online classes a bane or a boon?Well! For me it's a huge boon ‘cause I don’t need to travel and can work comfortably at home and lecture in three different colleges and two schools all at the same time.

REALLY?? That’s a tall one my friend in Dubai said. But it’s perfectly true! I have even been an external examiner for PG theses in St Joseph’s College. Infact I had a jealous SIL yell oh she just lies that she is teaching in college. Hilarious and to be ignored’ as I always do.

On some days I take online classes with JNC -- no more travelling and killing myself to get to the college in Koramangala.  Instead, five minutes before time I dress, put on some lipstick and perfume just for fun and I’m on -- Microsoft Teams no less. Each class has around 50 to 60 girls.

Mount Carmels College requires me for three hour sessions on Saturdays from 10 to 1 which can get taxing, but I give them a small break between assignments. Imagine taking 61 girls in a class online and everyone of them has to concentrate and be online for the whole session.

MCC likes their classes recorded and its so easy to take attendance. Just a click and I can download the video and the same for the attendance -- no yelling and calling out names!

One of the MCC classes which start with a few and in minutes the class is full

St. Joseph’s Boys School 11th standard  which has turned co-ed now also come on for classes on sustainability. The classes are fun and I sometimes get parents joining in as well! After all the kids are at home with Mums and Dads listening in. I dont care, very often parents need the education too!

And the latest is Sophia School who all want to learn about sustainable living and Climate Change and all that our planet needs to survive our onslaught. A Sister Prabha liases with me, the only religious person. The rest are all HODs of their departments and are on whatsapp with me. Rs 1000 bucks an hour is a pretty good remuneration per hour and I do it more for the thrill of teaching a cross section of age groups. 

Oh Yes! Fr Saji from JNC too liases, but then I met him when I went to the college and took physical classes earlier this year. I do miss the Media rooms of those very upmarket colleges but this is easier for me.

Johnny's Wind farm in Chitradurga

 Each class has around 50-60 girls and I teach them the way I was taught in Europe and not our old fashioned top - down Indian approach. Assignments on birds and native trees, Rain Water Harvesting and Composting, Controversial science and conservation, and ofcourse renewable energy. I love telling them about our Danish tenant Johnny Lauridsen who came here to set up a Wind Farm in Chitradurga with Indian engineers. The wonder of renewables which are free and will always be perennially clean and there for us.

World Bank Funding has helped farmers across Hoskote to RWH

I bring pictures from the farm in Hoskote to show them how we Rain Water Harvest there and have become water sustainable. How the World Bank has supported farmers to RWH and the village economy has picked up. I used to collect our old brooms in the building to take to the school there. Now they can afford to buy their own as crops are doing well with water.  

Yes I am busy, so I don't understand when people say “COVID” we are bored. I am busier than I ever was with COVID locking us down and that's great. Long live online classes. My son works online in one room while I work quite happily in another!

Education does give you that edge

 Over the years after having returned to my family home and dealing with community living and power struggles, one realises that education does give you that edge. With education one gets a greater sense of discipline: The regimens of education can instill you with the discipline required in the professional  and ordinary world. By learning to follow complex instructions and meet strict deadlines, you will be better prepared for the rigours of handling nasty and petty people with a false sense of power.

Plus one feels a sense of accomplishment: Each time you complete a job task, or quelling a silly situation in the building, it’s the product of your education received and logical thinking which has been released in your brain.

Yesterday my sister-in-law who has a false sense of power, called in the local police citing a reason which in the real world holds no water. The police arrived at the gate and our security guard rang our door bell and asked me to come down to the gate. I refused -- who were the police to call me to the gate? They had no right to do that. So, they arrived at my door with SIL hiding away.

We opened the door to find five officers standing sheepishly outside. “ Madam, I have been told you got these two servants to sign a blank sheet of paper.” The officer asked to see the ‘blank’ page which I had purportedly made the servants sign under duress.

“ Just a minute ,” I said, let me bring you the ‘blank’ sheet!

In minutes I went to my escritoire and took out the letter. The officers face changed colour and he said -- where’s the woman who made the complaint, this letter is  fine. Please read it out to all he asked and I did. I said I manage five flats in the building, three are mine. I do not want these women taking these cheap letters with no substance to my tenants. Infact one of my tenants shouted at the women and so their faces are small.

In a few minutes I read the very clear letter I had written and got the servants to sign.  I had even taken the trouble to explain it to them before they signed it. It was in legal jargon which I have learned through the various petty cases I am fielding in the building.

The officer realised that he had been called on what he termed a ‘silly’ matter and in minutes told the women to leave and go and do their work. The long tirade he made as they left  made them scuttle away quickly.

The next time such a incident happens said my lawyers, pull out your press card, the police cannot harass you at your door. I was calm and replied to all I was asked while the SIL and other sibling yelled and screamed and had to be told to shut it by the officer. As soon as it dawned on him that this was a kerfuffle in a teacup, a family matter as he put it, he left with his entourage, ofcourse trying to bring in advice about the lift and other matters. That remains as advice.

The beauty who caused the scuffle was enraged as she saw her power bubble had been deflated. In true fashion had to yell parting shots -- “ this family is rotten!” But it’s fine to reap the benefits right? Collect the moolah! Hilarious.  Greedy people who have come from cheap sub strata back grounds.

As you can see, the benefits of higher education in the 21st century are not just career-oriented but being able to develop yourself is invaluable, and having a higher education helps you do that. I found with education, my parents for example never got into petty quarrels or discussions with stray people. They kept their distance and did not really engage with people of a sub-strata.

An International degree which I have had a curriculum that spans across various geographical domains rather than limiting itself to a particular country. Hence a student graduating with such a degree will have vast know-how of the world. This gives you exposure that no other indigenous university can offer.

Interactions that you have with people from different cultures and ethnicities improve your understanding of how people work, what drives them, what motivates them, what they fear and what they love. The power struggle of recently arrived in the property, spouses can be handled deftly with education.

This is where an international degree gives you an advantage on what works and what doesn’t in the world.

Next round gloves up for a knockout blow. There is a lot to answer for, not just sheets of paper! I think my Dad and Grandpa would be pleased.