Darjeeling-Gangtok

Tour planning in progress

Little known to many, Shekhawat is going full throttle with an ambitious plan to take the Club on an excursion to Darjeeling and Sikkim next summer. He hasn’t spelt out the details as yet, but from all indications he is leaving nothing to chance -- more so, after all the gaffes and bloopers on the last trips to Lonavala and Kerala. He said he has learnt his lessons and wouldn’t want to get in a similar mess again. Hence the preparations six months in advance, not to mention the ‘early bird’ (touristy) benefits he hopes to derive.
Should this trip work out, the Club would effectively have toured the four corners of India – north (Vaishno Devi, etc), south (Kerala), west (Goa) and east (Sikkim).

Monthi treats us on her birthday

Significantly, for the upcoming trip, Shekhawat has roped in Monthi Serrao and Bhaswati Bose to do the groundwork – drawing up an itinerary, identifying suitable hotels, checking out on local transport, firming up on a budget and so on. Bhaswati’s relatives are settled in the north-east and with one brother based in Siliguri (which is en route Darjeeling) we can hope to draw upon them for some logistical support as well. Monthi, on her part, is a whiz with numbers.

Arun Patil shares information on diabetes treatment

Shekhawat has also requested Srichand Arora to be actively “involved” this time in overseeing operations and tying up loose ends.
Meanwhile, Arun Patil sought time after the exercises to brief members on the “unique diabetes treatment” he has just benefited from at Dr Prabhakar Shetty’s Clinic in Andheri (East). He said that this was the second occasion when he risked losing his foot to gangrene and on both occasions, without having to resort to a major surgery, he could save both his diabetic feet. “It is nothing short of a miracle cure,” he informed. “The doctor there prepares his own medical formulations which are not available anywhere else and by applying those ointments and lotions, I am back on my feet now!”
We had occasion to also usher in Monthi Serrao’s birthday today. It was an auspicious day as it happened to be Mother Mary’s birthday also, as well as Ananth Chaturdashi. Monthi (another name for Mother Mary) had fed us cranberries on Saturday (see post) and immediately left on a weekend getaway, only to be back in time to feed us fresh cake-biscuits from Pune this morning. We wish her many happy returns of the day and a life full of joy and good health.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Cake-biscuits and fun / As you celebrate your day with everyone / A wish is on your way / To enhance the beauty of the day... Happy Birthday, Monthi-ji.
Harish Wadhwa:
A very Happy Birthday, Monthi-ji. I hear the celebrations had something to do with cranberries and cake biscuits. Curious and would be happy to know the taste. Have a great day!