Kung Hoy Fat Choy Happy Chinese New Year of the Dog

We were around ten to assemble at the Hall of the Taj on Sunday 29th January 2006 on Chinese New Year. Lilly arrived early and has become a member of the hash Group as has Usha whose cab drove up just as we were walking out. The “late” Andy also made it as usual to all our cemetery visits. Cees is back from Mauritius for a couple of hashes and we looked at the Canals while crossing the Alipore Bridge which dates back to 1932. The Municipality water gushes out on the bridge and it becomes a sort of bathing ghat as we noticed on our way back from the cemetery. We walked around the Commonwealth Graves that are being well maintained as they are returfing the parallel alleyways. We stayed off the new grass but admired the gravestones with the insignia of the regiments of the young corporals, lieutenants, stokers and firemen who gave up their lives in 1944-45. We noticed a few graves of soldiers from the Ivory Coast and Nigeria amidst those of the pilots of the Royal Air Force. There is even a Hindu grave amongst them.
Outside the hedged area of the Commonwealth graves, Siddiqui wanted to take a picture of her neighbour’s grave to send to the relatives. A plot costs around Rs. 6500 according to her. We saw relatives tending a grave and Shanti felt touched. We learnt that women weren’t allowed into Muslim cemeteries so we won’t be able to visit the cemeteries around Park Circus. We also stopped by the more recent yet unnamed graves of Bob Wright of the Tollygunge Club and little Maxx’s with the flowers growing on it.
We walked also around the National Library after signing ourselves in. Andy, Nil and Madhuri’s guests were walking slowly, so we walked ahead and didn’t see them. It was past 8:30 when we assembled again at the Taj. Rajesh Poddar, who is keener on brisk walks than cemetery walks headed to the Horticultural Gardens and was foiled as they couldn’t give him change for Rs.100. He walked around the National Library instead which though a public space has a board saying “trespassers will be dealt with”. He reached the Taj before us and I explained the advantages of sitting on our convex side of the circular table which give you more elbow space.
This was Howard and Shanti’s last hash on this trip as they have to return to the US and continue the work on their house there. They were able to give Lilly a few leads on a story that she can do on Rain Water Harvesting. We stayed chatting till ten when the breakfast buffet closes with a Chinese friend celebrating the start of the New Year. Lilly got a few more leads including Nil’s good news that their d designs have been selected to showcase at the Lakme Fashion week in March in Bombay.

Southern Avenue Lakes Breakfast at Banana Leaf
Sunday, 22nd January 2006, we met in front of the Rowing Club. The newcomers were Rosie’s 2 sisters. Leaving Zoria to race off round the lake, the other ladies followed Madhuri and Sid into the Lions Safari Park
The slow starters decided to look out for “rabit”s and yoga shed and “merry go roundy”. We didn’t see the Laughter Club.
Doc had to rush off to a picnic and various wedding invitations according to Peter as did Zoria. 9 of us put two tables together at Banana Leaf and ordered very interesting South Indian dishes that are specialities of Banana Leaf. Rosie got ribbed when she ordered a ginormous paper dosa that reached till the other end of the table. Her two sisters took pictures. They ordered a tomato Uthapam but it was agreed that Carl’s and Madhuri’s Rawa Cheese dosa was the best! Rawa is apparently semolina. The Upma Peter mistook for potato until I explained it was a kind of couscous. The mini idlis were a grand success too as Peter’s Cashew nut Utthapam took a while to reach the table. I ordered a “podi dosa” which is basically a gun powder dosa - dynamite!!! We started and ended with south Indian filter coffee.

The venues were decided in order to have one cultural, one open air alternately.

Greetings all!
On Sunday 22nd January at 7:30 am we do one of our favourite spots - the Lakes of Southeren Avenue. Hope Doc Bannerjee will lead the pack at his brisk pace and Kunal and Alka could bring up the rear as it's practically on their doorstep!

Meet in front of the gate of the Calcutta Rowing Club opposite Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

We will have breakfast on Rash Behari Avenue opposite teh Lake Market at Banana Leaf or Komala Vilas if you want to try another South Indian joint. Bring your hash cash of Rs.100.

For the Dover Lane Music Festival - all night Classical Music concert, tickets for 22-25th January at Nazrul Manch are available at Melody on Rash Behari Avenue beside the Kalighat Metro Station.

Bengali Films on Kolkata are being screened at Gorky Sadan, on AJC Bose and Camac Street crossing, from 16th to 20th Jan, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.

Anybody need a calendar? Check out the attachment for The Hooters 2006 Calendar. Bonani will be sure to love it!

The Statesman Vintage Car Rally

This an annual event of Calcutta in January.
Siddiqui and Carl are regular marshals.
Nitish, Jolly, Doc, Peter, Rosie and Lilly were all there.
Sandeep Vyas was performing and Saw and DD were backstage with the dancers.
Yvonnick and Andy have been given their Taj T shirts over the week.
Nil and Dev have qualified for the Fashion Week in March! They can hopefully give inputs for our next batch of T shirts!

The Botanics has now become a paying proposition. We were more than a dozen on Sunday and foreigners had to shell out Rs.50 each while locals paid Rs10. There was even a parking charge. I think we can get around it if we reach there before the guardians at the gate do, but am not very clear on that.

After so many monthly meets at the Botanics, Peter, Rosie and Bhaskar still managed to get lost and had to walk the perimeter of the Botanics from the outside to reach the right gate. So they just managed to join us on our return to the Banyan tree and didn’t get much out of their Rs.50!

Hhoward and Shanti are back after a lot of back breaking labour on the cellar of their house which got flooded because of a burst boiler. We got horror stories of mildewed walls that can be cleaned with bleach I’m told. Bhaskar was back from Bangkok where he’s obviously slimmed down on Thai food. Howard and Shanti successfully got his goat by telling him instead he’d put on weight!

Rajesh Poddar, his wife and daughter did double the walk we did as they are regular early morning walkers. Howard and Shanti back from snowbound lands were recounting the pleasures of being snowed in and sitting by the fireplace reading. Shanti is delighted to be back to a cultural capital where there are all sorts of possibilities of outings. They, Peter and Rosie went to the Flower Show at The Horticultural Gardens after. And they and Lilly went to 15 Park Avenue the new Aparna Sen movie that very evening while I spent the day at the TARA Telefilm Festival at Nandan.

We saw truckloads of villagers in town for the Rally and there were mile long queues at the zoo.

Siddiqui gave invites for next week’s Vintage Car Rally.

Dear Calcutta Hash Group:

Greetings from Madagascar where we celebrate summer as you are celebrating winter. Hope all of our friends are well and thriving. The Hash here meets only every other week, but it is a real change to go up and down hills and mountains! Still, the company isn't as good...

Best wishes for a wonderful 2006!

-- George and Lee (aka "The Sibleys" in Carl's record-keeping)

George N. Sibley
Deputy Chief of Mission
U.S. Embassy Antananarivo,
Madagascar Tel: (261)(20)-22-212-57 Fax: (261)(20)-22-345-39
This message is UNCLASSIFIED according to E.O. 12958

Botanics on 8th Jan at 7:30 am

Happy New Year fellow hashers!

Hope the New Year brings everyone health, wealth and good cheer.

It was delightful to see you at the New Year Bash in the garden on 1st January and at the races!

My desk calendar for January 2006 Week 1 says “Dream new dreams today. Set new goals today. Spend your time on things that truly count today. Love your family today. Be a friend today. Do things better. Today.”

The Vintage Car Rally has been postponed to 15th January, 2006.
So on 8th January we will meet in the Botanics at 7:30am. We will walk around till 8:15 and then head to the Taj.

Neela 9830014934
www.calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com

Here's wishing all a Happy New Year 2006!

Tentative schedule for January 2006

1st January, 2006: Race Track 12:30 am
After a late New Year’s Eve bringing in the year 2006 with a bang, we might not be very many for an early morning at the Botanics. Not to worry, we’ll reschedule the Botanics later in the month.
On 1st January, it’s Race Day at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club. Since one of our hashers June has a son in law who is a trainer we have an inside at the race track. We’ll spend a day in the sunshine racing back and forth between the paddocks and the betting counters. Exercise and entertainment guaranteed. And every chance of starting the New Year with a bit of good luck! Meet at 12:30 at the races. Lunch and drinks available there. No collection. You pay cash and enter.

7:30 a.m. 8th January, 2006 Statesman Vintage Car Rally
Siddiqui is Marshall and will give us Car passes and all. The hashers will have their personal guide around the cars. Prithvi Tagore is not entering his car this year and will tell us all about vintage cars. Bring your cameras. Breakfast can be bought at venue
Meet Princep Monument 7:30 so we don’t get lost and I can hand everyone passes. Vintage Cars get flagged off at 8 am usually

7:30 a.m. 15th January, 2006 Botanic Gardens
Taj breakfast

7:30 am 22 January, 2006 Southern Avenue Lakes South Indian
Breakfast at Banana Leaf
This is the weekend of the Dover Lane Music Festival at Nazrul Manch near the Lakes for those interested in Indian Classical Music. The best performers come on at 4:30, 5 am in the morning as the all night music festival reaches a climax. So the Southern Avenue Lakes is where one should be.
23rd January is Netaji’s B’day and a holiday. Those wanting to come to Shantiniketan for a Bangladesh Festival of art, music and opar Bangla cuisine 21-24th Jan @ Geetanjali, let me know and we’ll make a trip.

7:30 am 29th January
Let’s do one of Zoria’s adventure spots- Howrah???
Breakfast at Taj

Happy New Year everyone!
Neela
9830014934