Cricket

Not that I like trumpeting, but, this time it is hard to resist the temptation. Look at the following excerpt from an email that was flashed to "All India" employees.

Continuing its engagement in the Blossom’s Inter-IT Cricket Champions Trophy, Ensim’s Cricket team made a strong statement …. and in what style and élan, which left the opposition stunned of the victory.
…
...the willow-men of Ensim team strode onto the pitch. Parag (Kaundanya), Manoj (Capt. again), Garry and Bimalesh (our own Gilchrist)made mincemeat of the bowling getting 88 runs in 12 overs.

I have returned to cricket after a break of over seven years and still managed to beat my own expectation with a scorecard that reads like 25 of 28, 57 of 40 and 11* of 6 balls (for Cricketing imbeciles, * means Not out) . Last one happened this Sunday against Symphony. Well, these figures do not extol the facts like, I have secured a place in the list of top ten batsmen of the tourney and stood behind the stumps like a wall without letting bowlers’ confidence droop. All these definitely deserve kudos!

I have donned whites at various levels before- right through school, district, and university to the famed Times Shield at Bombay. However, due to metamorphosed priorities, I could never again wield the willow after my last outing in January of 1998 at IPCL Cricket ground in Baroda. I was 25 then, now I am sedate 32. The right age they say, to wear out, Ganguli-fy and hang up boots...Ah! doesn’t that make this occasion apt to brag more about it?

Hope, we continue to beat expectations as a Team too!

No More Annual Fees

End of another year. Revenant fee appeared again. Peeved. Carrying this plastic for over eight years now! This time resolute and firm- will not pay. Do not mind ceding it. There are many compelling (=free) offers in the market. One email and the bank has realized for good. What a nincompoop! You allowed them to fleece you all these years :-(

<snip>
Your Query

Refer following transaction on the card: 14/12/2005 Renewal Fee from Jan-06 to Dec-06 750.00. By charging annual fee, do you want to force me to close this card?

Our Message

Dear Mr. Jha, This is with reference to your query dated December 15, 2005. We have reversed the Fee of Rs. 750.00 billed to your card ending ****. The corresponding Service Tax will be reversed automatically. This credit will reflect in the statement for December 2005. Your card has been maintained complimentary (no Renewal Fee will be charged in future). Thank you for accessing C???bank online.
...
</snip>

Down the memory lane...

Stumbled while browsing archive today. This was taken almost a decade back in 1996(?). Pawar, Gaurav, Rajneesh, Bam, Self, Prashant...celebrating a friend's birthday. I forget what was the venue called?

Since, I don't have these

• Bullet Electra 5S
  
• Alloy shoes on my WagonR
  
• Wharfedale SW-250
  
• Onkyo TX-SR702
  
• Honda CRV
  
• 42" Plasma (just have a 29" Pixel Plus; Yuks!)
  

I feel needy..., despise and pity myself :-(

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away!

This line by Beatles is a perfect way to describe my state yesterday. God was suddenly benevolent towards me. He cleared three events from his backlog and made my day.

• Got income tax refund. Was waiting for eons...need separate space to brood over it
  
• Pleased with work, my employer offered me timely confirmation
  
• Finally, long wait was over. Maiden issue of Better Photography arrived after two months since, they debited my credit card

Oh, I believe in yesterday...and today is Friday :-)
Cheers!

An evening by the sea!

Murud-Dapoli beach, on western coast of Maharashtra, India