Saturday, March 24, 2012

Cluster-2 Sunday morning: birds, kids and pheriwaalas


Aaj Saturday, 24th March 2012...aamar chhuti'r din.
Kintu aami bujhte parchhi, Shonibar ta Robibar er theke koto alaada.
Ekta boro karon holo ghar ey boshe boshe pheriwaala der hank aaj shona jachche na....

I recorded some cellcam videos on last Sunday morning from our flat....with portions where we find various pheriwalas calling for business prospects.
Video is not too good...but it might evoke some feelings when see it some years later.
I didn't get time to edit it, so uploaded the 2 videos clubbed in one (approx 5 mins).

I admit the combined video could be cut down to 3 mins..but if you are thinking of leisure while watching this video then it won't hurt.
Please put the volumes up to listen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPfbICGjBt8


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I also recorded separate audio clips for the pheriwaalas and other sounds from same morning - sharing them too...
[again, increase volumes please]


  • Birds chirping: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/lklUhKPU/file.html
  • Varied sounds: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/tYanfwbo/file.html
  • "Purono jama" pheriwala: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/MfqwPPdh/file.html
  • "Plastic Balti"pheriwala: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/Gb5QZZOP/file.html
  • "Silnora" pheriwala (the most distinct call for Cl-2 dwellers): http://www.4shared.com/mp3/VWcGlgMp/file.html
  • "Kagojwaala / loha lokkod" pheriwala: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/8P4lMdrM/file.html
  • "Jhuljharu" pheriwala: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/pSOAJVKL/file.html
  • Another pheriwala (couldn't identify product!!): http://www.4shared.com/mp3/j_oNj1h_/file.html
  • Another Unknown!! : http://www.4shared.com/mp3/WI8iPqa3/file.html


Monday, March 19, 2012

World Sparrow Day: Doing your bit for the tweet


On the occasion of World Sparrow Day, this is a request I am sending to many others I know. 
Also sharing with Cluster-2 friends
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Do you love common birds?

The house sparrow is amongst the most common ones.

20th march 2012 is World Sparrow Day.

The Indian summer is coming up.. 
In India, the summer takes a heavy toll on city birds including sparrows.
They die of thirst for want of water sources.

They will need water badly in the coming days.
Can you kindly keep a bowl of water in your balconies?

You only need to clean it from time to time, and fill it every day. No other action required...
To start with, you may need to put a few rice grains on your balcony.
This is just to draw the birds to this new, much-needed water source in town i.e. your water bowl.

When they find out the grains, they also spot a new water hole.
After first few days, the birds keep coming back on their own.
They drink water, they bathe in it.
They chirp, they tweet.
Joy delivered at your doorstep, paid in kindness.

We started in Nov 2010 at our balcony with this 'grain' method.
Nowadays when we forget to leave the grains in the morn, they flutter from the balcony into our room and chirp...demanding their share of rice grains! Some pix are included below this post.

We love our little guests.
You'll love them too. Make them your guests, with a bit of care in the form of water.

Other birds in your locality - like doves, Indian Myena (shalik) and the crow - will also be visiting your 'water hole'.
They will be thirsty too, just like our sparrows.
A wee bit of cleaning may be required in your balcony.
The birds use the water, nibble at any sprinkled grains as long it is lasts the morning 'rush hour'..and return only for water thereafter. They don't linger around your space.

I am attaching some pictures taken at our balcony last summer.
Kindly check this link for World sparrow Day: http://www.worldsparrowday.org/index.html 










Sunday, March 11, 2012

Purbachal Cluster-2: Sports activities in Salt Lake - Tennis

Well, these pics are clicked 120km away from Purbachal - at haldia. But the Bengal tennis association ground, near IA block and in the vicinity of Salt lake Stadium, provides good facilities where tennis can be practiced and played by people of all ages. For inspiration we need to see these Haldia pics. The 2 gents in the last 3 pics were playing this tournament final a year before their retirements...and this tennis tournament was open to all members of all refineries of IOCL, not just veterans.
[Pics: Haldia Inter Refinery Sports meet: Dec2010]





Purbachal Cluster-2: Sports activities in Salt Lake - Basketball

This is again at SAI. Clicked today - 11th March 2012!

Basketball is played right where Titli learns skating (Basketball arena of SAI).
Today a group was practicising. They invited us for a match in the morning tomorrow.
I have office to attend, so sadly can;t go there.
Anyone from cluster-2 to make them happy by attending as spectators?

They said thank you to me and Titli - just because we watched them play for some 15 mins and clicked pics. There is no more joy for sportsmen than to be appreciated by spectators.








Purbachal Cluster-2: Sports activities in Salt Lake - Badminton / TT

Badminton @ SAI Badminton courts (Jan 2011).
The first section (section 1) has badminton pics. These pictures are from an office tournament organised by my previous employers.
The first picture of  Table tennis section (section 2) of this post is a snapshot of the TT arena of SAI, which is adjoining the badminton arena seen in these pix (under same roof).
When we played the badminton tournament, kids had come later in the day and they were practising in few of the numerous TT boards under a coach.
I have added some more TT pix from a TT tournament at Haldia - just for the sake of feeling the 'action'.
Just for inspiration: The Sikh gentleman in the final was 50 plus...and he was playing the final of a non-veteran championship.

Section-1: Badminton:












Section-2: Table Tennis
the TT arena of SAI:






Purbachal Cluster-2: Sports activities in Salt Lake - Skating

Skating at SAI Basketball arena (Jan 2012):









Purbachal Cluster-2: Sports activities in Salt Lake - Cricket

Uploading some sports action photos that keep happening around us in Salt Lake.
This post is on cricket.
At the end I have also included pics of our cluster-2 budding cricketers...I hope they will like to see themselves on internet!!

Cricket (GD ground, Feb 2011):






Cluster-2 youngsters playing cricket: