I love my 'cuppa'

I love my morning tea and when brewing it a short while ago, it just brought back vivid memories of childhood and of growing up in Allahabad. I make a great cup of tea – I think so, and many have corroborated the fact. That probably is because, as a young boy of around nine, I was taught to do so by my mother and by my aunt – who both loved a ‘good cup of tea’ very early in the morning . I was the official tea maker and I enjoyed it ! Back then, tea was brewed quite differently than how it’s done now- at least by me. To start with, there were tea leaves and not tea bags. We used Brook Bond Red label. In fact, tea bags were not heard of, at least not in Allahabad. I remember the large white porcelain tea pot with small blue flowers painted on it. Water was boiled on the “coal stove’’ or “chulah” which had been lit by the cook at around five am. (If you are not a Millennial you will know what that means and would have probably seen one in old family photographs. I would then carefully wait for the water to boil in the old kettle, and keep opening the lid to check when exactly that happened – let me tell you there is nothing worse than under or over boiled water ! It is believed that boiling tea water correctly is half the battle and an art. It was then that I probably learnt the phrase, “a watched pot never boils” The moment the water boiled, I would pour the same into the tea pot, add in three ‘level’ teaspoons of tea leaves, give it a stir or two and put the lid back on. A Tea cosy (tea pot warmer) was then put over the pot and the tea was left to brew for three minutes (I looked at the clock). There again, if you do not know what a Tea cosy is, and I don’t blame you - Google it! Meanwhile the cups and saucers were laid out. The tea strainer was then placed on each cup as the tea was poured in, thus straining out the tea leaves. Believe you me, the smell of the fresh, steaming, golden coloured brew was amazing. Milk and sugar to taste then followed and presto, the tea was served. There was one clear instruction as well – no slurping. I will admit though, that I enjoyed drinking tea from the saucer at times and would often slink off and do that - I wonder if any of you readers have ever done that too? The pot of tea, covered with the tea cosy, remained hot for about half an hour and that was so convenient as most adults had another cup around that time. Today I make my tea very differently and it is a much quicker and easier process. I boil water in a small saucepan, use a tea bag which negates the use of a tea strainer, and drink my tea in a mug – I do have my favourite mug as well. Whenever I travel, on work or on holiday, I make sure I carry my Lipton tea bags along. I am also not too crazy about milk, so just a wee drop is what I use in a mug of tea. When on official trips I always take some extra tea bags along as I have colleagues who like the way I make tea and I guess, my company as well, so they ring my bell at six am and we have a “cuppa’’ together while discussing the plans for the day . Indians have bonded over steaming cups of tea for centuries- I guess they always will.

I love my 'cuppa'

I love my morning tea and when brewing it a short while ago, it just brought back vivid memories of childhood and of growing up in Allahabad. I make a great cup of tea – I think so, and many have corroborated the fact. That probably is because, as a young boy of around nine, I was taught to do so by my mother and by my aunt – who both loved a ‘good cup of tea’ very early in the morning . I was the official tea maker and I enjoyed it ! Back then, tea was brewed quite differently than how it’s done now- at least by me. To start with, there were tea leaves and not tea bags. We used Brook Bond Red label. In fact, tea bags were not heard of, at least not in Allahabad. I remember the large white porcelain tea pot with small blue flowers painted on it. Water was boiled on the “coal stove’’ or “chulah” which had been lit by the cook at around five am. (If you are not a Millennial you will know what that means and would have probably seen one in old family photographs. I would then carefully wait for the water to boil in the old kettle, and keep opening the lid to check when exactly that happened – let me tell you there is nothing worse than under or over boiled water ! It is believed that boiling tea water correctly is half the battle and an art. It was then that I probably learnt the phrase, “a watched pot never boils” The moment the water boiled, I would pour the same into the tea pot, add in three ‘level’ teaspoons of tea leaves, give it a stir or two and put the lid back on. A Tea cosy (tea pot warmer) was then put over the pot and the tea was left to brew for three minutes (I looked at the clock). There again, if you do not know what a Tea cosy is, and I don’t blame you - Google it! Meanwhile the cups and saucers were laid out. The tea strainer was then placed on each cup as the tea was poured in, thus straining out the tea leaves. Believe you me, the smell of the fresh, steaming, golden coloured brew was amazing. Milk and sugar to taste then followed and presto, the tea was served. There was one clear instruction as well – no slurping. I will admit though, that I enjoyed drinking tea from the saucer at times and would often slink off and do that - I wonder if any of you readers have ever done that too? The pot of tea, covered with the tea cosy, remained hot for about half an hour and that was so convenient as most adults had another cup around that time. Today I make my tea very differently and it is a much quicker and easier process. I boil water in a small saucepan, use a tea bag which negates the use of a tea strainer, and drink my tea in a mug – I do have my favourite mug as well. Whenever I travel, on work or on holiday, I make sure I carry my Lipton tea bags along. I am also not too crazy about milk, so just a wee drop is what I use in a mug of tea. When on official trips I always take some extra tea bags along as I have colleagues who like the way I make tea and I guess, my company as well, so they ring my bell at six am and we have a “cuppa’’ together while discussing the plans for the day . Indians have bonded over steaming cups of tea for centuries- I guess they always will.

James Bond and me

The only Social Media I had when I was growing up hundreds of years ago was the Radio! The only stations I tuned in to, on an old Bush radio, were “Radio Ceylon” and the “BBC” . (Of course, there were one or two Indian stations as well). The first for music and the second for the evening news. At times the valve radio did not catch the desired station and one had to give it a thump on the side and presto it obeyed commands thereafter. Whether it was the six am morning music show, cricket matches, Man landing on the moon, late night instrumental music or the daily news – that was Social media for us, and we enjoyed it. Yes we clapped when the cricket commentator shouted out that the batsmen had hit a four or a six and I jumped when I heard those famous words by Neil Armstrong's when he became the first person to set foot on the Moon: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Nothing can take away the thrill of those very special moments . Now there is the Internet, television with hundreds of channels to choose from, Facebook, WhatsApp and so many others. The list is endless and continues to grow – who knows what we will have ten and twenty years from now! We are indeed spoilt for choice. I remember going to a movie in my teens and seeing James Bond with a large ungainly looking cordless phone and saying wow! Not that I imagined myself as JB or anything – just the thought of a phone with no wire amazed me. I wondered where it was connected to and how. I remember starting with a Nokia 6210, (Googled to make sure that was the number ) taking it out of my pocket and looking at it often, in the initial days, to make sure I had it and of course to show it off . It was quite a rarity back then and I had sent for it through a relative in Dubai. Now everyone has a phone, and nobody seems to be able to do without it. Children carry it to school , people sign in before an operation , they check it between repetitions in the gym, peep at it in church , click selfies in strange places and feel lost and forlorn if they leave the house without it . I have often forgotten my wallet but rarely my phone. I distinctly remember attending a Leadership programme at “The Tuck school of Business” at Dartmouth some years ago. There were talks, seminars and discussions led by some amazingly intelligent professors from around the world - they almost gave you a complex. One grey haired professor held up his battered old phone and said – “Educationists around the world tell pupils not to bring phones to school – one day , all children will carry to school, will be a phone”- prophetic words indeed . On a slightly different note ….. Looking at schools going online around the world today, I wonder if brick and mortar schools will exist in the future. Everyone is managing quite well and with the advancement of technology this will happen – in fact, it already has. The debate for social interaction will continue and be solved too. Parents and pupils around the world are already getting very comfortable with the “new normal”. Not spending money on uniforms, on purchasing innumerable books, and on travel, is gradually making parents realize the indirect saving they are making and that is something one cannot scoff at in this day and age when every penny counts . Then there is the issue around saving time. With traffic jams and long distances to be travelled between home and school – studying from the comfort of one’s home is now being seen to be very appealing. Lastly with no water bottles and tiffin to be packed every morning, mums are smiling more often! If you notice, I have not even mentioned Covid and the apprehensions, fears and safety concerns around the virus. Mark you – I am not writing schools off any time soon. Nothing can replace face to face teaching and learning. The pat on the back from your teacher, the competition with your friends on stage and on the field, the camaraderie, the jokes, the bunking classes – all seem irreplaceable right now but then again who knows. For how long will “NOW” exist? I never thought I would ever have a cordless phone like James Bond did I?

James Bond and me

The only Social Media I had when I was growing up hundreds of years ago was the Radio! The only stations I tuned in to, on an old Bush radio, were “Radio Ceylon” and the “BBC” . (Of course, there were one or two Indian stations as well). The first for music and the second for the evening news. At times the valve radio did not catch the desired station and one had to give it a thump on the side and presto it obeyed commands thereafter. Whether it was the six am morning music show, cricket matches, Man landing on the moon, late night instrumental music or the daily news – that was Social media for us, and we enjoyed it. Yes we clapped when the cricket commentator shouted out that the batsmen had hit a four or a six and I jumped when I heard those famous words by Neil Armstrong's when he became the first person to set foot on the Moon: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Nothing can take away the thrill of those very special moments . Now there is the Internet, television with hundreds of channels to choose from, Facebook, WhatsApp and so many others. The list is endless and continues to grow – who knows what we will have ten and twenty years from now! We are indeed spoilt for choice. I remember going to a movie in my teens and seeing James Bond with a large ungainly looking cordless phone and saying wow! Not that I imagined myself as JB or anything – just the thought of a phone with no wire amazed me. I wondered where it was connected to and how. I remember starting with a Nokia 6210, (Googled to make sure that was the number ) taking it out of my pocket and looking at it often, in the initial days, to make sure I had it and of course to show it off . It was quite a rarity back then and I had sent for it through a relative in Dubai. Now everyone has a phone, and nobody seems to be able to do without it. Children carry it to school , people sign in before an operation , they check it between repetitions in the gym, peep at it in church , click selfies in strange places and feel lost and forlorn if they leave the house without it . I have often forgotten my wallet but rarely my phone. I distinctly remember attending a Leadership programme at “The Tuck school of Business” at Dartmouth some years ago. There were talks, seminars and discussions led by some amazingly intelligent professors from around the world - they almost gave you a complex. One grey haired professor held up his battered old phone and said – “Educationists around the world tell pupils not to bring phones to school – one day , all children will carry to school, will be a phone”- prophetic words indeed . On a slightly different note ….. Looking at schools going online around the world today, I wonder if brick and mortar schools will exist in the future. Everyone is managing quite well and with the advancement of technology this will happen – in fact, it already has. The debate for social interaction will continue and be solved too. Parents and pupils around the world are already getting very comfortable with the “new normal”. Not spending money on uniforms, on purchasing innumerable books, and on travel, is gradually making parents realize the indirect saving they are making and that is something one cannot scoff at in this day and age when every penny counts . Then there is the issue around saving time. With traffic jams and long distances to be travelled between home and school – studying from the comfort of one’s home is now being seen to be very appealing. Lastly with no water bottles and tiffin to be packed every morning, mums are smiling more often! If you notice, I have not even mentioned Covid and the apprehensions, fears and safety concerns around the virus. Mark you – I am not writing schools off any time soon. Nothing can replace face to face teaching and learning. The pat on the back from your teacher, the competition with your friends on stage and on the field, the camaraderie, the jokes, the bunking classes – all seem irreplaceable right now but then again who knows. For how long will “NOW” exist? I never thought I would ever have a cordless phone like James Bond did I?

What is success

Do you consider yourself SUCCESSFUL? I have been thinking about this for a few days now and doing some self-evaluation too. In fact, I sat down and made a list of the areas where I feel I am rather successful. I was not surprised to note, that there are quite a few, where I can do better. I guess a lot depends on what SUCCESS means to you. Is success, peace of mind? Is it material gain? Is it having all you desired and more? Is it a great family life? Is it social recognition? Is it an accomplished aim? Are you successful when you do not fail? Does it have something to do with achievement? Can we compare levels of success? – If I did a better job than you did, was I more successful? Does success have anything to do with age and circumstances? Is success the journey or the destination? Is success a state of the mind? – I feel I am successful, but in someone else’s eyes, I am a failure. Is it self-acceptance of achievement? Does success have anything to do with winning? Is it just a perspective? Should we live for success? This is my take on the topic:- "Success is very personal mindset. It is a journey of self-definition, self-discovery and self-belief. It is about our own desires and sense of fulfillment. Above all, it has a lot to do with the emotional connection we have with ourselves". Would love to hear what you have to say. By the way, do feel free to disagree .

What is success

Do you consider yourself SUCCESSFUL? I have been thinking about this for a few days now and doing some self-evaluation too. In fact, I sat down and made a list of the areas where I feel I am rather successful. I was not surprised to note, that there are quite a few, where I can do better. I guess a lot depends on what SUCCESS means to you. Is success, peace of mind? Is it material gain? Is it having all you desired and more? Is it a great family life? Is it social recognition? Is it an accomplished aim? Are you successful when you do not fail? Does it have something to do with achievement? Can we compare levels of success? – If I did a better job than you did, was I more successful? Does success have anything to do with age and circumstances? Is success the journey or the destination? Is success a state of the mind? – I feel I am successful, but in someone else’s eyes, I am a failure. Is it self-acceptance of achievement? Does success have anything to do with winning? Is it just a perspective? Should we live for success? This is my take on the topic:- "Success is very personal mindset. It is a journey of self-definition, self-discovery and self-belief. It is about our own desires and sense of fulfillment. Above all, it has a lot to do with the emotional connection we have with ourselves". Would love to hear what you have to say. By the way, do feel free to disagree .

Do any of you remember Godfrey Gordon

Dear Former pupils Greetings from Dubai. I need some help and thought of no one else to turn to, but you, dear boys. Actually, help from anyone reading this is welcome – the more the better. Nothing urgent or critical, because if it were something like that, I would call. I have so many of your telephone numbers. Then there is Facebook, Whats-app, Messenger etc . So let me lay it out there ......... Does anyone remember Godfrey Gordon? No? Well, you will by the end of this short story. I believe some people referred to him as GG too. Not too sure . Now let me start at the very beginning, as it’s a very good place to start! Woke this morning and decided to write a short piece as I often do, but then got busy with more important work and writing was put on the back burner. What followed was then a typical weekday – drove to see a few schools, as it was the first day of face to face learning. That was followed by more work on the computer and lunch. Ate a comparatively light lunch so that I did not feel sleepy. Just some simple chicken and tomato rice followed by a custard. I love custard. I know its fattening but today was a cheat day like many others! Anyway, as I was making myself a cup of tea at around 4.00pm, the name ‘Godfrey Gordan’ came to mind. No clue why. Rack my brains is what I did, but despite my best efforts, I could not just fathom out where this name had come to mind from. Was he a boy from Bishops during my time? Was he an ex Bishopite who had left before I joined? Was he a boy I had taught in Dubai? Was he from my hometown Allahabad? Was I suffering from dementia? (I am a bit of a hypochondriac). Could not fathom it out, despite my best efforts and felt a trifle inadequate. Whenever I think of something and fail to come to a conclusion, it troubles me. I then decided to go to the gym but changed my mind at the last moment and decided to go for a long walk instead. I have pulled a muscle and feel that rest will help . It was then, amid walking, listening to Rod Stewart and doing my best to stay as far as possible from fellow walkers, that I had a Eureka moment. I usually call it an ‘aha’ moment, but Eureka sounds better! I almost felt like Newton – the only thing amiss - there was no apple. Yes, I had it. The elusive Godfrey Gordon! You see when I was probably in a primary class, I was taught the Poem which goes something like this: - ‘Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore — No doubt you have heard the name before — Was a boy who never would shut a door! The wind might whistle, the wind might roar, And teeth be aching and throats be sore, But still he never would shut the door’. And so it goes on ( William Brighty Rands) So, this was Godfrey Gordon and here lies the problem. How in Dickens’ name did I think of him? Why would I in the first place? I am not very friendly with anyone named Godfrey or Gordon. I have not read or heard the poem being recited in ages. If I think back, I learnt it about fifty odd years ago! So how and why did it suddenly come to mind? Was it floating around somewhere within my cranium and suddenly decided to pop up and confuse me? Do these things happen? Is it normal? Are there more confusing names to follow? What if suddenly the name Hubert Blaine Wolfe­schlegel­stein­ha comes up. Will I go insane? Now that you know who Godfrey is, can you help me with this puzzle? I will forever be both thankful and grateful! Sincerely Mr Guzder