I am, I find, incapable of commenting on all the world-shaking events that appear in the headlines….I feel that tsunamis, earthquakes, and other (quite literally) earth-shaking stuff needs bigger and better people to comment on them. Those who are on the scene can describe events much better….

The days have warmed up. Though the initial shower is somewhat chilly, and getting in draws an involuntary gasp, it is lovely in the pool after that. I do the backstroke to avoid getting too much of water in my eyes and nose and having a sneezy reaction to that. I watch the twilight sky aglow with light and then slowly fade into darkness. The huge eucalyptus tree on the lawn sways in the evening breeze, and birds fly to and fro. In the larger pool that I swam in, in Chennai, crows would fly in and dip their beaks in the water. The water feels like silk as I cleave my way. This is a tiny pool; it probably takes two-and-a-half lengths of this one to equal a regular-sized pool. So I do my lengths, spending a physically active but mentally calm hour…I get out feeling not in the least tired, but refreshed and with my body feeling cool and clean. Exercise should always be like this!

I am committed to the idea that the best parent is one who brings up a child to be an adult, who has a life that need have no reference to the parent, who has the strength of mind to take responsiblity and take hes own decisions….therefore, am keeping very quiet about a tough decision that my child is in the process of making….but still, I feel the pull of the umbilical cord halfway across the world….

Pune seems such a nice city, especially the suburbs. It has escaped, so far, at least, the madcap development of Bangalore, and remains very green. Night temperatures are very pleasant even if the days are hot. There are picturesque places to walk in early in the morning. Even flats are built with lots of open spaces and plenty of greeenery…gives a pleasant, open feeling.

We went to the India-Pakistan Test Match, 1st day…surprisingly good crowd and traffic management, I found! The first two overs were very eventful, with Pakistan 6 for 2…but then the 3rd wicket partnership, which was 200 + when we left, began…it was nice to watch Inzamam Ul Haq take his 150 on the occasion of the 100th Test he was playing…and I thoroughly enjoyed all the sidelines, had my face painted in the tricolour, underwent Cricket 101 from my 7 year old neighbour who apparently knows every statistic there is about this game….I was able to follow the game much better than I thought, and had a really great time. If only the India Pakistan match was not so supercharged with jingoistic fervour! But that’s the way it is (my neighbour would NOT have one half o his face painted with the Indian tricolour and the other with the Pakistani crescent and star!)