Foxtrot Sqn Diamond Jubilee Memorabilia

The Fox Diamond Jubilee Memorabilia continues to enthrall Foxies. Recently Ray D'souza Sir/Fox/26 was at Antarctica with the Memorabilia and now we have received snaps from Anil Kumar (92)/Fox/78 who wore the Memorabilia whilst at Geneva where he is based. Kindly click on the link below to have a sneak peak at the Foxies with their pride:-

 https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5813315210777901153?authkey=CJf4wbD369vnuwE

Livin' On the Edge

"There's somethin' wrong with the world today, I don't know what it is,
Something's wrong with our eyes

We're seeing things in a different way, And God knows it ain't His,
It sure ain't no surprise

We're livin' on the edge
We're livin' on the edge
We're livin' on the edge"

"Aerosmith" sang this meaningful number in 1993. How true is the meaning of this song!! If we look at our lives and the happenings around us;we can safely say that we are living on the edge. The most edgy part of my life started when I reached the magnificent National Defence Academy. The first day itself,I lost my lovely hair to a brutal attack by the NDA barber in a mirror-less room.I knew I was on an edge and I also understood fully well that it was just the beginning.

     

The edgy 2nd Term began and always kept me on my toes.It made me fit and made my thinking robust.Since then life has been a roller coaster ride on times spent at sea and ashore.The edginess remained all throughout.

     

Now,I have a teenager who has crossed me both in height and the shoe size. He now keeps me on an edge and again keeps me fit and robust in my thinking. The results of the penultimate medical in Uniform today have certified the advantage of staying on the edge.The Cholesterol and Sugar Levels are in great shape. Tonight is the night and as the Jack Daniels calls-am going to sing Aerosmith's words to the teenager and thank him for keeping me on an edge and keep me going.

Fox Golf Cup

Foxies got together on 09 Feb 14 at Gurgaon for the "Fox Golf Cup".The game lifted the Fox spirit and bonhomie to a new level. Kindly click on the below link and enjoy some precious moments:-

https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5978387047563297969?authkey=CKSDkML49p2hDA

The Thriving Chaos

The hard landing at Jaipur by AI890 is behind us. It is a new life and the journey has commenced again with full fervour and dedication. The biggest lesson of the event is that life has its own perils and it is not worthwhile to waste it or its priceless assets.       

 2014 has begun with a bang. This year is crucial for everyone in some way or the other. Big events are unfolding in almost every sphere of life and will touch upon all of us. We need to see these events with a giant vision so that we can see far and wide. The World thrives on chaos and can we escape from the ever evolving chaos? A large number would agree that there is no escape from the omni present chaos. Surely, most of you would agree that we are active participants of this "chaos" phenomenon and generate our future with our own acts.     

 The sheer wastage caused by humans is an ideal example of the ever evolving chaos. Most of us have scant regard for resources at our disposal. We do not care for precious assets like water and electricity. In most of our Offices, leaking taps and day time burning lights are a normal phenomenon. Very few bend/extend their arms to shut a leaking tap or a tube light during the day time. PCs are kept running even when the desk is empty and TV is kept switched on even when the Boss is away. Alas, the lack of meters to gauge the consumption keeps the chaos thriving.The same habits are passed on to the new generations and the chaos persists.         

Recently, I found examples of Geysers being left switched on from night so that warm water is available with the first light!! In older accommodations and especially high rise buildings, the hot water pipeline goes through stresses and strains and bursts. The houses under the bursted pipeline feel the brunt and seepage sets in their walls.The chaos haunts the residents of the houses with seepage in walls!!    

 Similar is the story of the garbage disposal where most of us just clean our own houses but do not dispose off the garbage properly. The climate is the sure shot victim of this thriving chaos.   

We are surely on an edge and 2014 can become a crucial year for many of us. The thriving chaos cannot be stopped,but, for sure, can be stalled. Let the leaking taps be plugged, the burning lights be minimized and the electrical equipments be used economically. Let us stall the thriving chaos.

JOURNEY OF FOX MEMORABILIA TO ANTARTICA

The Fox Diamond Jubilee Memorabilia-2012 has been traveling. Recently COMMODORE (R) RAY D'SOUZA/FOX/26 traveled to ANTARTICA with the Fox Memorabilia. Kindly click on the link below and enjoy the majestic journey of the Fox Memorabilia:-

https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5813315210777901153?authkey=CJf4wbD369vnuwE

Travelogue Manipur-VIII-Imphal to New Delhi via Jaipur in AI890!!

The ceremonies at Moreh got completed on 04 Jan 14.Early 05 Jan 14, we shaped course for Imphal which is 110 Kms from Moreh. The axis between Moreh and Imphal has been freshly laid and we could catch good speed.

      

The defence id is extremely helpful on this road as there are check posts of Assam Rifles,Police and Forest lined up. The vehicles are stripped open for checks and this is where the defence id saves a considerable amount of time. En-route I saw an AR post named "Fighting Foxtrot" and I stopped to shake hands with a young Major who was positioned there.Sharing some gen on Foxtrot,we moved on.We reached Imphal's Tulihal Airport and boarded AI 890 to New Delhi via Guwahati.

    

The flight was full to its capacity.The AI Captain Jalaj Vats made a timely landing at Guwahati and soon the packed aircraft was airborne for New Delhi. Whilst coming in for landing at New Delhi,Capt Vats pulled up as the visibility fell to a near Zero! He reported that he would make another attempt or else divert to Jaipur/Lucknow. Another 20 min in the air and he reported a diversion to Jaipur. The tired passengers just sat quietly.

     

Coming in at Jaipur,we could not see anything outside the windows!However,the Captain announced landing stations and the flight speed remained a bit high for my comfort. Soon,we hit the soft ground adjacent to the runway as the fuel strapped Boeing made an emergency landing.The plane was at a high speed and its rear tyre bursted with a loud thud.The plane was shaking voilently as its left wing got hit by some object and the Captain used great skills to bring it to a halt. Small children slipped from their seats including our son Agastaya and went inside the forward seats. There was panic all around as the cabin lights went out.

      

The emergency lights were brought on and the temperatures inside the cabin soared. The plane was now stranded in the middle of runway and visibility was dead zero. We were finally evacuated and taken to the terminal. At 1 am,AI checked us inside a hotel and I could see a sign of relief in the eyes of co-passengers.

     

I am writing this travelogue whilst on way to Delhi in an AI arranged Volvo. The grit and courage of Captain Jalaj Vats was exemplary and deserves kudos.The ground staff support was quick and they were accomodating inspite of hiccups by few unruly passengers.

    

Yesterday was an action filled day and many more travelogues will follow.

Travelogue Manipur-VII

The time has been zipping past me at Moreh. The buzz of New Year is in the air and sounds of music and revelry can be heard each night. The Churches, Temples, Mosque and Gurudwara of Moreh are closely located and the enamoring sounds have made the environment pleasant and full of fun.

           Since, we are here this time to lay the Memorial Stone for my Mother-in-Law, hence, I have been travelling deep inside Moreh and Tamu to invite friends and relatives. Cruising on our 2 wheelers, myself, my Father-in-Law, my Brother-in-law and Aparna have seen these two towns like never before. Its a delight to meet people of various castes, creed, religion and co-exisitng in a compact townhip. They welcome you with happiness and offer their best for the family event lined up on 03 Jan 2014.

         In the course of our movement, I also met young, energetic and extremely dynamic Police Officer from Manipur Police Services- Mr H Balram. Mr Balram heads the Police Force at Moreh and is also the Immigration Officer-in-Charge. A pleasing persona, it is rare to meet such a person. His life is full of true courage and saga and he has met all the adversities with his sound principles. I had a frutiful and meaningful interaction with Mr Balram and was pleased to see that the entire town has tremendous regards for him and his Police team.

       As I had mentioned in my last Manipur Travelogue-V & VI, that we had coceptualised and planned a "Clean & Green-2014" campain for the local Hermon Jr High School. This school is run by a young Lieutenant from The Salvation Army, Lt David Sanga (Mob-09402268853 and his email id is angeldavid_hermon@gmail.com. It would be great if some of you can chip in with your part and help a few students and in turn the School). Mr Balram also joined the initiative and we had a great launch of the campaign on 01 Jan 2014. The local media keenly followed the event and the details can be accessed by pasting the link http://thepeopleschronicle.in/?p=30918

in your browser and accessing the media file. The photos of the event an be accessed by clicking the following link:-

https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5964896768016442033?authkey=CN-oxZ3gvO2xPw

        The beauty of Moreh is coming around of communities to join and help the family. The Young Mizo Association (YMA) of Moreh of which my Late Mother-in-Law Mrs Thankungi Sailo was the founder, rallied around us and a grand event unfolded on 03 Jan 2014 as we released the Memorial Stone to the friends and relatives who had travelled from far and wide. It was a sombre and nostalgic event.

       This trip to Moreh has been extremely educative and involved a good deal of travelling and meeting people. The place needs attention if it has to be a part of India's Look East initiative. Young people like Mr H Balram and Lt David Sanga need to be supported and helped to complete their initiatives. Clean and Green -2014 would continue in the Hermon Jr High School and we would be keenly watching the nascent steps from New Delhi.

       Wish you all a grand 2014 and donate , if you can for this unique campaign.