The Fifth Blog

So many little things happened today, some expected and some unexpected. But they kept me engaged all the time so that my main task of writing did not even take off. A letterhead for formal communications, an app to scan documents perfectly were the major gains. CNDA was not what I thought of, much to my amusement. I have new assignments in the pipeline. And I have been persuaded to take an official position later this year in the alumni association. 

A day of uncomfortable but necessary social interactions. Also photo management - transferring from camera to laptop and to backup HDD. 

Collected the Laptop  with the replaced HDD. But there is a problem with the battery. I couldn’t find time to switch it on at home. The battery will cost Rs 3500. Visit to Monorail workshop at Wadala depot, arranged by IEI, was interesting but fell short of my expectations. We had to be content with views from the gallery. Rode on the monorail to Chembur. The line passes so close to the storage tanks of Bharat Petroleum Refinery. MRC meeting was boisterous and contentious. I opposed the seminar if it cannot break even. 

 Caught the 9 am show of Gully Boy. Wrote a review on IMDb at 3 pm - Packs A Terrific Punch. Loved the movie totally. It is a clever blend of entertainment and political messaging. The energetically shot rap sequences are the best, mincing no words while pitting haves and have-nots.  A surprise enquiry for Hazop Study. Good brainstorming at BoG meeting.

So much happening. I am barely able to keep track and document everything. Another Hazop today. What appeared to be a simple and routine task turned into something very complex.

It was an awful meeting, for which I travelled from one end of the city to another. It barely lasted 10 minutes, less than the time I spent sipping tea at the reception. There was no common meeting ground. Neither of us took any effort to find it. I felt like I was being interrogated. The meeting had to end abruptly. I wouldn’t consider it as a waste of time, because I got exposed to a very different world where people like me thrive. 

Two unexpected things happened to make this week even more hectic. One of them was of my own making. Hope the temperatures stay low all of this week to help me accomplish everything with a certain degree of panache. 

Taught “Critical Path Method” of Project Scheduling by learning it from YouTube clips early in the morning. Very satisfying. Spent few minutes among flowers at the exhibition in the neighbourhood garden.

Back to ground reality with a 3-hour lecture on Project Management. At the end of it, the students burst into spontaneous applause. It is still ringing in my ears. What a pleasant surprise for an impromptu lecture with barely any preparation. Most rewarding lecture ever. 72 hours later, the motifs and visuals of Champaner monuments still haunt my mind. I have plans to blog about it next week. 

Today’s accomplishment was coleslaw, something that I have eaten many times at conference buffets.  Msde it at home for the first time. Also bought mayonnaise for the first time. Didn’t want to waste the good big cabbage. So coleslaw for dinner and also breakfast tomorrow. 

The publisher responded promptly and positively, asking for 3 sample articles. I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out how to reply to his e-mail with 3 pdf attachments. On iPad. iPad is an awful product, totally unintuitive and unfriendly. Had to upload the attachments from Google Drive - not an elegantly solution. Raising income tax limit to 5 lakhs is the big budget news of the day. It is expected to stimulate consumption and create jobs. I think it will further widen the gap in our society and not bring in the expected political gains to BJP. Where will the government get money for its plethora of welfare schemes? Editorial done. On AI. Because the budget has announced a national programme on AI. January was a terrific month, especially the bracing weather. Will be happy if February is even half as kind.