Happy Marriage Anniversary, the 33rd one to my wife

Happy 33rd Marriage Anniversary to my dear wifey. 

Isn't it unbelievable that for 33 years since 1988-06-27 and right upto this day, viz. 2021-06-27, I tolerated you and you too tolerated me. And all that because of the unspoken doses mutual love and respect for each other. 

Take care. 
Stay safe.

Happy 33rd Marriage Anniversary to my wife, my co-roadie

Happy 33rd Marriage Anniversary to my dear wifey who's a fabulous co-passenger roadie. 

I rarely stop too often for breakfast, lunch and tea. It's you who keeps pushing me to drive on and skip the lunch, so that I don't feel drowsy after food. 

You keep yourself wide awake and frequently scan the rear view mirror from the back seat to check for any signs of fatigue in my eyes or face. You have done innumerable long drives with me where on most days the drive lasts for 12 - 17 hrs! 

It's unbelievable that for 33 years since 1988-06-27 and right upto this day, viz. 2021-06-27, I tolerated you and you too tolerated me. And all that because of the unspoken doses of mutual love and respect for each other. 

Take care. 
Stay safe.

Started my VW Vento and kept engine idling for 15 minutes on 2021-06-23

The 2nd wave of Covid-19 has not yet gone. Some people have already started going out on long drives. 

However, I am of the belief that it's better to remain safe than repent later. 
Therefore, remained content starting my VW Vento and keeping the engine idling for exactly 15 minutes within the covered garage on Wednesday, 2021-06-23 from 2.30 pm to 2.45 pm. 
Anyone in India in Indian Roadie in the same page as me? 
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* Indian Roadie Healthcare Tips 
* Indian Roadie Safety Tips 

Pats GTG at Adda Bites, Kolkata on 2010-06-18

Impromptu get-together of St.Patrick's HS School Asansol alumni based in Kolkata at Adda Bites, near Ruby Hospital, Kolkata on 2010-06-18, 7.30pm onwards. 

10 of us attended. Great kebabs and lots of laughter!! 
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* StPatricksAsansolAlumniUnofficial 
* PatsGTG

First Chausa mangoes of 2021 bought from pushcart seller on 2021-06-19

I am extremely finicky about the looks, texture and taste of mangoes and all fruits that I am willing to savour 😋 

Lyangra, Himsagar and Chausa are my favorite brands of mangoes.  

Locked up at home in Kolkata and generally feeling depressed, the summer of 2021 cheered me up a bit with lots and lots of mangoes, grapes 🍇, watermelons 🍉 and bananas 🍌 bought from pushcart sellers without even having to unlock the collapsible gate of my home. 

Attached with this post is season's first buy of 3 kgs of Chausa mangoes on 2021-06-19 😘 

Covaxin 1st dose for Diksha on 2021-06-09

A part of a major cause of worry, a great responsibility as a father in these difficult times, done and dusted on Wednesday, 2021-06-09 at 12.28 pm. 

My Daughter Diksha got vaccinated with 1st dose of COVAXIN as desired by me from a very friendly private facility about 8 - 9 kms from my place, viz. Genesis Hospital, Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba, Kolkata. Had to pay ₹1410 as per the new pricing structure which became effective from today 2021-06-09. 
The lead for availability of 1st dose of COVAXIN was provided by a young and helpful lady friend Tapasi Bag Gupta late yesterday evening. I was introduced to the Director cum Managing Trustee of the hospital by her. By 9 pm yesterday itself, the Director of the hospital confirmed 12 noon today as the available vaccination slot for my daughter. 
I left home by scooter at 11.45 am. By 1.15 pm, my daughter and I were back home. 
The entire process was so unbelievably smooth. 
Thank you Tapasi. Thank you Ms Olivia Dunlop. 
And of course a biiiggg THANK YOU to PM Narendra Modi Sir for ensuring vaccination at such a fast pace to all citizens 🙏 

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* Covaxin 1st Dose 

* My Daughter Diksha 

My daughter Diksha in January - February 1998

Diksha, my cutie pie barely 4 - 5 months young in Jan - Feb 1998. 

I have this feeling that it was only yesterday that I was cuddling her on the rooftop of our house in Beliaghata, Kolkata. 
How time flies 😊 
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* MyDaughterDiksha

Covaxin 2nd dose for wife and me on 2021-05-18

Thank you Narendra Modi ji once again 🙏 

It's because of your mission to keep all Indians safe that my wife and I were fortunate enough to get our 2nd dose of Covaxin on Tuesday, 2021-05-18 at 1.55 pm. We got jabbed at a vaccination centre at Bidhan Shishu Udyan, 4 kms from our home in Kolkata, just 4 days prior to the scheduled deadline of 42 days (for Covaxin) was about to expire. 
The 1st dose was on 2021-04-10 at a spanking new private facility, Techno DAMA Hospital, 1.5 kms from home. 
To get a vaccination slot for the 2nd dose was not as easy as the 1st dose because all private facilities were debarred from procuring vaccines on HER instructions. After returning to power for the third time in a row, the #I_Me_Myself LADY wants to hog the limelight as if SHE is doing residents of West Bengal a great favor by vaccinating them. It was little consolation that we got our 2nd dose FREE. 
A totally botched up bot by some unheard of, but 'inspired' (anupranito) IT company engaged by the KMC for vaccination slot allotment ultimately resulted in we 2 getting alloted 5 Covaxin 2nd shots between 18th and 21st May 2021. It won't need the intellect to fly rockets 🏀🚀 to guess what might have happened to the 'three' extra vaccines alloted to us! 
lt's a challenge now to get the 1st dose of Covaxin (paid or free) at a relatively safe and crowd free vaccination centre for our daughter at the earliest opportunity. 
Now the moot question  ...... 
Since my wife and I completed the vaccination dose on 18th May 2021, exactly 15 days ago, why is it that I am letting the world know after this huge time interval.  
My doctor friends and their wives, who are doctors too, unilaterally had the same advice for me. They had warned that a minimum of 15 days after the the 2nd dose is extremely critical because while antibodies build up within the body, the body remains weak and and susceptible to contracting the Chinki virus 😩. 
A lot of people known to them let loose their guards after the 2nd dose of Covishield or Covaxin, contracted the disease and died after draining their dear ones mentally, physically and financially! 

CAUTION: After getting the 1st or 2nd dose, get back home and after a wash pop down a Calpol 500. Pop down 3 more after that at 12 hrs interval. 
It will not do any harm. 
On the contrary you will save yourself from the hassle of extreme body ache and fever. Why invite uneasiness. 
That's what we did after the 1st and also the 2nd dose on the advice of a doctor friend. 
Today, 15 days got over. Earnings are zero. Financially I am in a precarious situation. Nevertheless, I am trying to keep myself jovial and self motivated although I can't see any light at the end of the long and winding tunnel. 
Friends, please remain careful. Your dear ones need you more than you need yourself. 
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* KeepStrongStayHappy 
* Covid19

Covaxin 1st dose for wife and me on 2021-04-10

Thank you, Narendra Modi ji 🙏  

My wife joins me in conveying my heartfelt 'pranam' to you. 

Ever since end March 2020, I was scared that I will breathe my last without the luxury of getting shielded from the Chinese virus. 
By the year end you proved me wrong. 
It was because of your leadership and initiative that not one, but two brands of vaccines were introduced in the Indian market. 
As a marketing professional, my next worry was how you and your team would handle the logistics of distribution and administering of the vaccines in a diverse country like India. Even a fortnight before the actual rollout happened, I was mighty scared that if the process of distribution was left to one bloodthirsty and diabolical LADY in West Bengal, I will not get it before the next 13 - 15 years, as per my calculations. 
On 25th February 2021, I heard J.P.Nadda ji announce in Science City, Kolkata that you have taken a decision to open up the vaccination process for all Indians above 60 yrs and also for those between 45 - 59 yrs but having specific co-morbidity issues w.e.f 1st March 2021. 
I could clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel. 
On 1st March 2021 itself, the day online registration started on cowin.gov.in, my wife and I registered ourselves using my smartphone in about 100 seconds only from start to end. 
I am still not 60. Fortunately, neither of us have any health co-morbidity issues. Nevertheless, I was sure that my wife and I will become eligible for the 1st dose of the vaccine by the Diwali of 2021. 
You proved me wrong once again. I let out a shrill cry on that wonderful morning in end March 2021 when I read that your team has decided to throw open the vaccination process for all above 45 yrs of age, irrespective of whether one has any health complications or not w.e.f 1st April 2021. 
I checked out the Cowin website immediately and was delighted to find that we two were still registered on the site. 
1st April came. My wife insisted that we head to any of the private vaccination centers near our place of stay in Kolkata. 
On that particular day, I couldn't take my eyes off the various news channels showing the happenings in Nandigram. More than the virus, the 'vinaash' of the venomous lady was far more important to me. 
Then came 2nd April. 
Sir, let me admit that I am paranoid about getting pierced with that small but scary looking needle.  
However, after waking up from sleep on Saturday, 10th April, I mustered enough courage and headed to the Kolkata unit of a  multi-speciality hospital chain, located off the EM Bypass with my wife. It was 12.45 pm. The vaccination venue resembled any working day in Canning Street in Kolkata. We would have had to wait in a queue with at least 170 people ahead of us waiting under a 'shamiana' for their 1st dose of Covaxin. 
Needless to mention, we beat a hasty retreat. 
We headed straight to Techno India Dama Healthcare and Research Hospital, LB Bock, Salt Lake, on EM Bypass and besides National University of Judicial Sciences. We were just behind 8 people who were there for their 1st dose of Covaxin on payment of ₹250 per head. 
All private healthcare centers in this part of my city were administering Covaxin today. 
Sharp at 2.30 pm on 2021-04-10, a pretty young and professionally adept lady nurse jabbed the syringe 💉 with the 1st dose on my right upper arm while my wife stood clicking photos of the process for the Covaxin vaccine to work on me. 
My wife made it clear to me that she would scream at me if I dared to click her photo while she got pierced. 
The process over, we kept waiting at the adjacent squeaky clean air conditioned waiting room for about 30 minutes before another masked pretty lady arrived to give us some important dos and donts. She also warned us of possibilities of extreme joint pains and high fever lasting for a maximum of 2 days and recommended paracetamol tablets and use of ice packs should the need arise. 
Within 2 - 3 minutes after getting jabbed, I got an SMS confirming that we have indeed received our 1st dose of vaccine and would have to wait for another 28 - 42 days for the 2nd dose. The certificate in .pdf format got generated instantly on the Cowin website. 
For the vaccine to be absolutely effective, we clicked a couple of more photos for your perusal and also for the perusal of my friends. 
Returned home thoroughly satisfied with the experience. And BTW, to commemorate the days sweet experience, bought 1 kg of sweet black grapes 🍇 and a water melon 🍈 weighing 2.5 kgs on the way back. 
After all my eligible Indian Roadie  friends pan-India get jabbed twice and the second wave of Corona presently sweeping India subsides, we should meet up and rejoice. Till such time, please obey the Covid-19 protocols and stay safe with your dear ones. 
Irrespective of whether you have reached the eligible age or not, healthy or co-morbid, vaccinated or not, please start believing that wearing of masks 😷, maintaining hygiene and social distancing 👤✖️👤 are extremely important for the welfare of all. 
If at all you need to travel, please register online and get vaccinated before the rush for getting vaccinated becomes unbearable.