29th June

Completed morning program. Spent the day with children and reading magazines and newspapers. Pilku offered to get Wimbledon Central court tickets for today. The matches were not attractive. I told him to get tickets next year for  Men's finals. We will plan visit accordingly. There are no matches tomorrow, it being Sunday and on Monday we are leaving for Delhi in the evening.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day : 1.West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets with 73 balls remaining during their Tri-Nation Series cricket match in Kingston, Jamaica on Friday, June 28, 2013.

28th June

Completed morning program. Pilku and Amolikaa went to see tennis matches at Wimbledon : L.Robson (GB) v Marino (Columbia) and Robredo (Spain-32) v Andy Murray (GB-2) in  the Central court . Robson and Andy won in straight sets. Abhishree returned home from the school trip at 5 pm. She looked fresh and smart.....Could not meet Vikas in London due to engagement. He was in London during the most of the month of June.
News of the day from London :  Mahesh Bhupati and his partner were defeated in the second round at Wimbledon. Leander Pias and his partner moved to second round.

27th June

Completed morning program. Amolikaa objected to going to swimming classes today.  She said that  the swimming teacher shouted too much. Ruchi somehow managed to take her...When i told Amolikaa yesterday that two grandchildren of a friend of mine, aged 3 and 6, visited and stayed with him for a week far away from their parents, she said that she would also visit us whenever her parents sent. In fact Abhishree wished to come along with us to Birmingham for the cricket match, but could not as she had to go out on a week long trip with her school outside London. She would return on Friday, the 28th. I noticed her theatrical anger a couple of days earlier on a trivial issue. It appeared to me as if she was not happy with going away from us. She is loving. When she was just 3/4 year-old, she was very naughty and playful. When i would practice Yoga, she would try to open my eyes, sit on my shoulders, jump on my lap, kiss me. As i continued the practice, she would go away. Now she does not disturb me. Cookie does the same thing. I have to keep the door of the living room closed during the practice..... Amolikaa was watching a Children serial on the TV today in the evening. I joined her and wished to start a conversation. She did not like it. She asked me to leave the room. I left. She wished to see it undisturbed. Like a true Indian, i liked to gossip without caring for her engagement with the serial. As a true British, she did not like any disturbance/dislocation in her work. The British are highly individualistic whereas Indians are egoistic. She is born British. I have to keep this fact in mind in my dealings with her in future.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day from London for children :1. In the mixed double category, Mahesh Bhupati, Sainia Mirza and Bopanna of  India advanced to second round.
2. As many as 7 players quit Wimbledon matches due to injury, a record.
3. Vicky Raitt, a 23 year old zoology student in Aberdeen woke up and found a scorpion crawling on him. He jumped out, managed to take it in a container  and called Scottish SCPA to hand it over to them. It appeared to him that the scorpion had crawled and hid into his personal belongings during visit to Borneo some time back and sneaked out now.

26 th June

Completed morning program. Venita and Ruchi went to Amolikaa's school to witness a dance presentation . Amolikaa  was also a participant. Venita told that her performance was good. I congratulated and blessed her for better achievements in life.
Retired to sleep at 9.45 pm.
News of the day from London : 1.The British Govt. decided to print the picture of Jane Austen on 10 pound notes.
2. The British National Health Service decided to recruit doctors from India due to shortage.
3 Only Robson, the British woman player, moved to second round and the remaining 6 were defeated in the first round.
4. The Govt. approved inflation busting increase in the combined £1.9 billion pound budget of Britain's intelligence agencies.

25th June

Completed morning program. Wimbledon Park looks like a fair, a large number of people queuing up to see Wimbledon matches and many camping in small colorful tents for days with the hope of getting half used/other tickets for entry in the Wimbledon campus. Pavements on both sides of the

Wimbledon Park road are full of people walking towards the Stadium. Hawkers have set up their shops along the route selling coffee/tea/beer, snacks, souvenirs. A band plays on the way. I saw a Buggi moving on the Park road with a passenger in Victorian dress, sitting in the coach, driven by two stallions with their padded feet.  I asked Pilku to check if quarter finals would take place during the remaining days of our stay in London and if so, try to get debenture tickets. Richard had observed a few days back that Wimbledon crowds were no match to those he had seen on TV at Allahabad Mahakumbh recently. But it is also true that entire UK,men,women,children, turn up (or for that matter, entire Europe ) for the 2 week long Wimbledon panorama. It is sight to see their patience in queues for hours. Along a kilometer long  route to the stadium, there are refreshment joints , toilets, rest rooms and a number of stewards to politely guide you. If the tickets are sold off for the day, it is informed to them. The majority of them continue to stand in the queue with the hope of getting half-used tickets and if they do not get, start the effort again next day. The queues form up overnight but they are allowed to get in the route from 8 am only. It is a treat to be part of it.

Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.

22nd, 23rd & 24th June

22nd June

Completed morning program. Amolikaa gave a dance performance along with her school students in a local fair. Venita attended it along with Pilku and Ruchi. Left Southfields underground station to  Euston and  thereafter  Euston by Virgin train for Birmingham New Street at 6.03 pm. Arrived Birmingham New Street station at 19.27 pm. The railway stations are  well kept and organised. There is no difficulty in finding your way through them. As we did not get hotel accommodation  due to heavy rush for Champions Trophy next day, we stayed comfortably with Saurabh,  Ruchi's first cousin. He is expecting his wife to join on 14th July. They got married recently. Retired to sleep at 11 pm.

23rd June

As we could check-in at 5 pm only at Novotel hotel at Birmingham due to unprepared rooms in the morning, left our luggage with the hotel and went to  Edgbaston stadium for ICC Champions Trophy final Cricket match,2013, between England and India. Pilku took a package hotel and ticket deal for us. At Edgbaston stadium, it continued to rain intermittently from about 9.30 am to 6.40 pm. It was windy and as chilly as we have it in India in  Jan.  Match could start then and ended at about 8.15 pm. About an hour's game had taken place earlier. Stadium was full. 2/3rd of them were Indians. The crowd cheered and booed, but it was not rowdy. The entire stadium stood when the national anthems of the two countries were sung/played. I saw quite a good number of British Indians singing both the anthems. I liked it because it is what it should be. Every pore of our  body was elated and full of pride to the singing of 'Jan man'. The crowd had joined. The match had a thrilling end. Until the last ball was played, it was not clear as to which team would win. Though England lost, but they played better.

After the dinner we retired to sleep at 11 pm.

24th June
After breakfast left for London at 11.30 am. Arrived home at about 2 pm. Abishree is out of London on a school trip and will come back after a week.

Retired to sleep at 11 pm.

21st June

Completed morning program. As one medicine of Venita fell short, Ruchi took appointment with a  GP of NHS  for a prescription to buy it from local market. You cannot buy a medicine from a pharmacy unless it is prescribed by a local GP/Specialist. It won't accept a prescription of an overseas GP/Specialist for selling any medicine. She got the requisite medicines.... Children made efforts to get the autograph of Andy Murray, Wimbledon no. 2  and All England champion, with no success. He practises in the courts in front of Pilku's house. They were not interested in other  players. In fact i saw Andy practising in the morning when i came back home after morning walk. He was to come for practice in the afternoon. But he did not come when children went there.... Pilku arranged our visit to Birmingham to witness finals of Champions Trophy on Sunday. We decided to go as India won in the semi finals yesterday.... Ruchi's friend's mother came and interacted with Venita too for sometime.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day for children from London : 1.The weather is likely to be windy, showery and cool during the week end.
2. Dieter Zorn, 53, a German , was touring southern France with his Interactive Reptiles Show and suffered a heart attack thought to have been brought on by the snake bite.

20th June

Completed morning program.Visited Bhaktivedant Manor Hare Krishna Hare Ram temple at Aldenham near Watford, Herts, after an hour's journey by train from Wimbledon to Radlett and by taxi therefrom to the temple. It is situated in an area of 78 acres and is the biggest ISCON temple of Europe. It is managed by a group of local devotees. About a thousand come to the temple daily and 4 to 5 thousand on weekends. The nearby areas are inhabited by Jews who came from Germany with lot of money, received as compensation and settled here.  4 Artis take place during the day. 

We attended 4.20 pm Arti. Prasad is distributed after each Arti, all prepared in the temple.   Bhajans go on intermittently. There is a small canteen where you can have tea/coffee and frugal lunch/dinner. In fact after taking Prasad, you do not feel like taking anything else. It is delicious and filling.There is a Gaushala which gives enough milk for use in the temple. It has 38 cows. The idols of Radha Krishna, Ram Lakshman Sita with Hanuman are superb and looked exquisite on a well-lit podium. We returned by 8 pm. The sun was still shining bright. Ruchi had dropped and Pilku received us at Wimbleon railway station. Retired to sleep at 10 pm.

News of the day : India defeated Sri Lnka in the second semi final and will meet England in the finals of the Champions Trophy.

19th June

Completed morning program. Visited Wimbledon club pub and watched Abhishree and Amlikaa play tennis. At Central court Venita and Ruchi did shopping. I wish to see the finals of Champions Trophy on Sunday here as India is likely to be in it . But it is scheduled to take place at Birmingham. Pilku proposed to arrange accommodation in a hotel there for overnight stay on Saturday so that we could see the match on Sunday timely. It takes about 2 hours by fast train to reach Birmingham. We will decide (whether to go or not)  on Friday.
We saw Wimbledon quarter finals in 2011. We hope to see some matches this year too.
 Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
News of the day : England defeated South Africa by seven wickets at the Oval, London.

18th June

Completed morning program. Bought an Oyster card for movement in London. Pilku has given his Oyster card to us. He travels to office by train. Trains charge more or less double of bus fare. The range of permitted movement by trains is, however,  larger. It is zone wise.  Monthly passes are cheaper compared to Oyster card. Movement by own car is the cheapest. But parking charges are quite often heavy. To get parking place is also a difficult proposition. You have to select mode of movement in London according to your convenience. Although expensive, transport is very well organized and its availability is there throughout 24 hours all the 7 days. Pilku has organized special coaching in Tennis for Amolikaa. She went there today. It was her first day. Ruchi and Venita went to attend a play in Abhishree's school. She is also acting in it. They were all praise for acting, presentation and direction in the play.
Retired to sleep at 19 pm.
News of the day for children from London : 1. The children of Enniskillen Integrated Primary school undertook a project about G8 summit , being held in Northern Ireland these days  . President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron visited the school and interacted with the students. 2.A surge in the number of sex offenders has forced the British Prison Service to dedicate 5 jails to housing them. 

17th June

Completed morning program. Watched Maria Sharapova and others practice on way back from Wimbledon park after walk. Only women players were practicing in all the four Courts . Men may follow them after sometime. Spent about an hour in the pub of Wimbledon club while Abhishree played tennis. I had told Amolikaa a couple of days back that if she overfed Cookie it would become obese which is not good for its long and healthy life, that it might die early and that life span of a dog was a maximum of about 12/13 years only.When i repeated it again  yesterday, she said,' You have already told me this. I will follow it strictly for Cookie's life.' Ruchi told that Amolika gave one piece from her share of walnuts to Cookie today over and above its food.. When i asked Amolikaa about it , she told that it had accidentally fallen down when Cookie  came and took before she could stop it. Visited Wimbledon village market along with Venita who did some shopping.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day : Sri Lanka defeated Australia by 20 runs at the Oval today.

16th June

Completed morning program. Children went out for gymnastic and athletics early morning. Ruchi and Venita went to Southside mall and Pilku to Gym. Spent the day reading newspapers and magazines. Also watched the Wimbledon players practicing in courts in front of Pilku's house for some time. As i had watched Wimbledon live in 2011, it was the same experience watching them playing/practising power-packed shots. Both men and women were tall, handsome and healthy. Pilku told that he had heard that top players would come with  big entourage of cooks, attendants,  families and hire  nearby houses for 2 to 3 weeks paying 40 to 50,000 pounds, quite often sponsored by Corporates and others.We had watched quarter final matches in the Central court in 2011. Maria Sharapova was one of the players in the Women's quarter final match. She won the match. But she did not play so well.
Today is Father's day here. It is celebrated in a big way in the west. As far as i know, there was no tradition of its celebration in the east. This western practice is now followed in the east also. Bablu rang up. Amolikaa and Abhishree  hugged me affectionately. Ruchi  prepared a vegetable of my choice and some other dishes. Children prepared lollipops with chocolate attached to a bow and arrow for me and Pilku.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm (GMT).
News of the day :1. JDU and BJP broke their 17 year old ties in Bihar. JDU also withdrew from NDA. Now NDA has three main parties: BJP, Shiva Sena and Akali Dal.
2. In a study of the Institute of Economics and peace, Iceland is found to be the most peaceful country. UK is at 44 of the list, USA at 99 and Afganistan at 162 is the most disturbed country of the world. On hearing this, Abhishree said,  'Dad you should not go to Afganistan'.
3. Group 8 (UK, Japan, Russia, USA, France, Italy, Germany and Canada ) is meeting in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland for 2 days from Monday to discuss various world issues. Situation in Syria is likely to be the main issue.
4.ENGLAND BEAT KIWIS AND QUALIFIED FOR SEMIS OF THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY.

15th June

Completed morning program. It was windy and drizzled throughout the day. But children went for athletics and tennis practices, We too had our walk. The day is long The sunrise is around 4.45 am and sunset at about 9.15 pm. There is light in the horizon upto 10 pm. We got extension of our medical insurance for another 21 days as the stay in London is extended upto 1st July.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.
News of the day : 1.India defeat Pakistan by 8 wickets in final league encounter of the Champions trophy.
2. A research in Scotland confirmed Indian genetic connection of Prince William and Prince Harry through their mother, Princess Diana.

14th June

Completed morning program. A grand party was organised by Pilku/Ruchi in David Lloyd's gym from 4.30 pm.The celebration started with children's ball game. It continued for an hour. It was guided by a smart young man. Thereafter children  were taken to the washroom.

It followed a three course supper of plateful of eatables, a doughnut and ice cream . 11 little candles were lit corresponding to Abhishree's age. She is 11 today. She cut the cake and extinguished alit candles. Children chanted 'Happy birthday to Abhishree'. It was enchanting to hear that. All shared the cake. They were given beautiful return gifts. We left the gym at 7 pm.

Retired to sleep at 10 30 pm.

News of the day : 1. The Hindustani Coffee house in George street in Central London was the first indian restaurant, set up in 1810 by Dean Mahomet, an Indian  traveler,  entrepreneur and surgeon.

2.One British baby in three has a parent  born abroad.

13TH June

Completed morning program. Abhishree celebrated birthday in her school. On insistence of Ruchi/Plku we agreed to stay back for a few more days. The earliest the travel agent could get us new date of departure was on 1st July.  We have requested him to try for  an earlier  date. Courts are opening on 1st July.  Our medical insurance, which was till 15th June, will have to be extended up to 1st July. Our guard at Delhi house  was to go back to Faehpur on 1st July. He is to stay back till we return home on 2nd July. His earlier train reservation has to be cancelled and new reservation made.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day: In the Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka defeated England by seven wicket at the Oval here today.

12th June

Completed morning program. Bought a gift for Abhishree. Her birthday falls on 14th June. It is being celebrated in a big way. Birthday celebration is a big occasion in a child's life here. The same spirit has now come in the life of an Indian child too. We did not celebrate it during our childhood days with such pomp and show as it is done these days. Our parents did Puja on the day. There could be a get together of ladies of  the locality/relations, some songs by/among them and distribution of sweets at the most, that too only on the birthdays of boys and not of the girls. These days birth days are celebrated as much for the girls as for boys. Our parents followed dates of birth according to Indian calender.The children follow the 'Gregorian calendar, also called the Western calendar and the Christian calendar. It is internationally the most widely accepted and used civil calendar.'
We have 4 granddaughters, Khyati, Abhishree, Amolikaa and Alaynah and a grandson, Akshat. As none is staying with us in India, we celebrate their birthdays by Puja, prayer, havan in the morning followed by distribution of sweets among the employees of the Society, our own attendants and generally to all  who visit the Society temple on the day. We will join in Abhishree's birthday celebration in London on 14th. We attended her birthday last here in 2011.
Retired to sleep at 11 pm.
News of the day for children from London :1.A woman was bitten by jelly fish while she was swimming from Cuba to Florida yesterday. She is advised to take protective gear against sharks too
2.A third of honey bees died in England during last winter.
3.Three men in Czechoslovakia  invented a bi-cycle which can fly for five minutes. 

11th June

Completed morning program. Visited Central Court mall, Wimbledon along with Venita. Abhishree along with her entire class went to local Swaminarain temple, about an hour long journey by bus. Ruchi was requested by the school to accompany the students. Last year they went to a local mosque.

Retired to sleep at 10 pm.

News of the day : 1. A second consecutive ODI hundred by Shikhar Dhawan and a career-best bowling performance by Ravindra Jadeja led India to a comfortable eight-wicket win over the West Indies with more than 10 overs to spare.
2.China launched a manned space mission with three astronauts for 15 days.

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10th June

Completed morning program. Visited Ms. Anna Stobart, Managing Consultant, Hafton Consultancy on the request of Mr. R.M.Stobart, retd Assistant Chief Constable, for lunch. She is his daughter. Came to know Stobarts when I met them during my attachment to the Winchester Police as part the Intermediate Command Course, being attended by me at Bramshill Police College from Jan.to March 1980. We have kept in touch with each other ever since then. During last over 33 years we have met thrice : First in 1980 at Winchester, Second in 2007 at Pilku's  Engandine Street house over lunch and today at his daughter's place. We write to each other regularly. He is 82, looked spirited, hale and hearty, has two daughters and one son. Janet, his wife, could not come from Winchester as she is sick. Along with Venita spent about two and half-an-hours with them from 12 noon to about 2.30
 pm, talked about our families, misc. things and shared memories of professional work. Anna prepared delicious lunch and dessert.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day of the for children from London.: A gardener was attacked by a swarm of wasps after he accidentally cut through their nest with electric hedge trimmer.at Cardigan, West Wales. He became unconscious and had to be hospitalised for treatment.
,

9th June

Completed morning program. Cheered up Abhishree and Amolikaa who were being given practice for participation in a future marathon race in particular and athletics in general at Wimbledon park. Day before yesterday I saw boys and girls of a school holding their annual  athletic meet at the same venue. Amolikaa went for gymnastic practice in the afternoon. Venita and Ruchi went to South side mall and Pilku to the gymnasium. Went through the 'Sunday Telegraph' and the latest 'The Economist'.

The Sunday paper has a number of supplements, mostly in the nature of advertisements and costs £2=Rs.175/-. Even the Saturday Telegraph costs the same and too has a number of supplements in the nature of advertisements. On week days, it costs £1.20. I buy it daily from the GPO shop at Southfields after 45 minute brisk walk at the Wimbledon park. I read it sipping coffee in the nearby Starbucks shop and return thereafter for breakfast at home which is about 15 minute walk from there.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day from London for children : 1. New Zealand beat Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens stadium in Wales by one wicket.
2 .In French Open men's singles final between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer at Roland Garros Paris, Nadal beat David Ferrer in straight sets.
3.A report published in the The Sunday Telegraph says that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is practising Yoga. She is expecting her first child in mid-July.

8th JUN

Completed morning program. Pilku returned from South Africa. Venita and Ruchi went to the Central court market, Abhishree to a class fellow's birthday party at Guilford,Surrey and Amolikaa to play tennis in the Wimbledon park along with Pilku.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.
News of the day from London for children :1.Serena Williams won a second French Open title  against Maria Sharapova.

2.England defeated the Australians by 48 runs in the Champions trophy  at Edgbaston today.

3.The owner of an antique teddy bear, found at the Bristol.airport over a year back, could not be traced so far.

 

 

7th June

Completed morning program. Visited Marks and Spencer ( M&M) at Seva  Centre, Colliers Wood in the South West London about a couple of kms away from our residence. I spent about 2 hours in its café sipping coffee and fruit tea when Venita was shopping. The majority of the visitors to the café were senior/very senior citizens (fat, frail, disabled) and hardly any young people. There were also, of course, few mothers with infants. They perhaps come to M&M for shopping  and thereafter to the café for lunch or coffee.
News of the Day from London for children : 1. India beat South Africa by 26 runs  in the first ODI of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Oval grounds yesterday. Shekhar Dhawan scored 114 runs. West Indies defeated Pakistan by two wickets at The Oval  in the second ODI today.
2. 'Cheeky' Bolivian squirrel monkeys bit 15 people last year at London zoo, working out at just over one bite every month.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm. 

6th June

Completed morning program. Venita along with Ruchi visited Central Court mall at Wimbledon. Retired to sleep at 9 pm.
News of the day from London : 1.A beggar earned about £50000 by begging near Putney. A magistrate imposed a two year anti-social behaviour order banning him begging anywhere in London.
2.Police is to tell insurance firms of unsecured homes.
3.The new Jane Austen College in Norwich is to ban homework to give pupils more time at home with their families.
4.A man found 55 Roman coins with the help of his metal detector . Another 55 coins were found by experts.  These are more than 1500 year old and of the value of £1,00,000. The value will be shared by the owner of the land and the finder of the treasure. 

5th June

Completed morning program. Pilku went to Johannesburg, South Africa in the afternoon. Will be back within a couple of days. Visited Central Court market at Wimbledon along with Venita. Richard has invited us to his place at Winchester and lunch with him on Sunday or Monday. We will inform him tomorrow about the date of visit after talking to Pilku. He has invited all of us including children.
News of the day : 1. Retail prices have come down a bit here (London) these days.
2.A peacock is reported to be guiding  the life of a Briton in Greece. Its picture is published in a half page of The Daily Telegraph today.
3. In a warm-up match at Cardiff, India beat Australia by 243 runs.
Retired to sleep at 9 pm.

4th June

Completed morning program. Visited south-side shopping complex, Wandsworth along with Venita and Ruchi. Vodafone service centre disabled internet to avoid unnecessary charges on emails in my mobile phone. We are now using Amolikaa's  Lenevo laptop for seeing emails, replies to them and writing blog. Virgin Lebara mobile is through internet telephone. We can talk anywhere with minimum charges.
News of the day: 1.Destruction of Textile factory in Bangladesh has led to a boost in manufacturing of garments in UK.
2.The current recession has hit the richer people most in UK. Inflation has reduced the value of their income. Reports in The Daily Telegraph indicated the same.
Retired to sleep at 10.15 pm

3rd June

Completed morning program. Amolikaa played a soothing tune in the flute when I was doing asans  pranayam and other exercises. She is taking lessons for playing flute as also violin. Her musical instruments are beautiful.... Visited Wimbledon village market along with Venita. Ruchi dropped us there. On way back returned by bus. Transport is quite expensive here. For a 2 km. journey we paid more than Rs.400. Subhash and Sunita met with an accident in their journey from the IGI Airport to Gurgaon on return from Spain. Although they suffered minor injuries, but are shaken by the shock of it. Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.

2nd June

Completed morning program. Children went for coaching in athletics early morning. Watched Amolikaa and Pilku play tennis in Wimbledon park. Amolikaa's nursery class friend came with her sister from Engandine street. Their mother dropped and father picked them up.  Now she is in a different school. Living on Engandine Street, Pilku and Ruchi had closer community life. It is not so on Bathgate road. Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm. 

1st June

Completed morning  program. In the Travel supplement of 'The Telegraph' newspaper of today, there are advertisements for travel to quite a few countries but not for India. We should plan/sell tours to India adequately.... Watched children playing tennis in Wimbledon park. Ruchi's friend visited with her two kids who were closeted with Abhishree for sometime. Amolikaa had gone out for lessons in athletics. She had won a gold medal in athletics in a local competition in South West London a few months back. She is to join an athletic higher training camp in Sept. this year. Retired to sleep at 10 pm.

Completed morning program. It was a warm day. Visited Wimbledon club and nearby village market. Two class friends of grandchildren with their mother came. They were together for a couple  of hours and left after dinner.

Retired to sleep at 11 pm