Submitting a school form - An inexperienced parent

I am looking for Rishabh's school admission in Mumbai. I missed forms of Dhirubhai Ambani by few days. So, promptly got the forms for Poddar. Cost of the form Rs.2700/-. It's for Jr. KG. I had gone, today, to school to submit the form.

I checked few things with the teacher (or receptionist) and filled the form. She asked for the attested copy of Rishabh's birth certificate. I did not had original. It was at Pune. She said people at Police station will do it. And I should get it done from there. So I took the directions and went hunting for the Police station. I saw branch of Bank of Baroda. I thought it will be far easier to get it attested from bank then from Police station. So I went in the branch.

I marched into the cabin of Chief Manager. Told him very proudly that I work in Deutsche Bank and would like his help, looking for some solidarity. It seemed he didn't like it and told me flat
"Bank is not in this business." I asked him for suggestions, said
"I am new here."

He replied "I am new too. I have been just transferred from Pune"

"I am also from Pune. You must help me", I said.

"I can attest only for the account holders. I can't do it for you." He refused.

I thought it was very rude for the manager of a nationalised bank to say it's not his business. I assume Bank of Baroda is a nationalised bank. Anyhow, I crossed the road to and went to the Police Station. I am not the only one. There were others too waiting in the queue. Later, I understood they were all applying for Poddar.

No one offered help in the Police station. Typical unkind enviornment, where everyone is looked at like a criminal or a convict. There were 2 Police Inspectors in the room, busy with their work. One was searching for 2 blank papers and the other for a punch. All the constables in the room were helping their respective 'Saahad'. They were so busy that a constable from the other room came to us and said "Don't wait for the attestation. The 'Saahab' who used to do it expired some 2 months back and his reliever has not yet joined. So come tomorrow."

People were standing there since morning. One guy had come every day from last 3 days. He was shocked to hear this. There was no photograph with a garland on it. If not placard they should have at least put it on the notice board. Mumbaikar as they are revolted and demanded someone else should do it. A Police inspector sitting in the next room agreed after looking at commotion.

In the entire group, two people did not have the originals. Naturally, I was one of them. And after lot of pleading inspector refused to attest. I called up Just Dial got the numbers of the people around who can atttest. Gave them a call only to hear come after 6pm. It was noon; I had reached the school at 10 am. From last 2 hours I was struggling to get the attestation. I was cursing myself; I had postponed submission to this week as I had planned to get it attested by my mom in Pune. But, busy weekend (Panshet Trip) did not allow.

I was also fighting with myself to procrastinate the submission of form. Maybe tomorrow, but at the end I started heading towards the HDFC branch, convincing myself that the curse (a black cat that had crossed my way in the morning when I left home) is over. I thought of reasons and logics to persuade HDFC people on my way to the branch.

I reached the branch. Everyone was busy. I was looking for Branch Manager's cabin. Suddenly, a lady amid the crowded desks emerged and said "How can I help." I explained my plight and emphasised that I am the account holder with the bank from last 5 years. She took the paper. Glanced at it and looked back as if she wanted to say "Please open an account with my branch and I will attest." She asked me about the original and I said "I don't have it with me. You can check that with your branch people in Pune." I wondered is it so difficult to trust me. She asked me my account number; I gave it to her and said "Even Rishabh has a account with you." She started punching my account number in the computer.

I was not sure whether will she do it or not. If not what I will say or rather do. In this uncertainity, someone called my name. It was my ex colleague Shalini. I was so relieved to see her. I did not feel excited to meet her after so long, but felt more assured to get the certificate attested. After exchanging a quick where are you and who is where, I gave her my card took her number. In the meantime her colleague who was attending me got the certificated attested and came with a relationship manager. She said Amit will be my relationship manager from HDFC Mumbai and will be in touch with me.

I excused myself form the bank and said goodbye to Shalini. I went to Poddar submitted the form. What an achievement. As I say "I am a new parent. I am inexperienced."

I went to Santacruz station which was another 5 mins walk and took a local train to Andheri. Walked through teli gali to catch a cab to office.

I felt completely dehydrated. All the water in my body had oozed out. I would have perspired less on day long trek. But this is the specialty of Mumbai.

Railway Advisory

I have started commuting from Pune Bombay at weekends. I thought trains are most reliable they are but even a small distrubtion hurts. As it puts you out of schedule. I think it is common every where.

Here is an interesting advisory;

I chanced upon it while surfing.

Rishabh's Catching Butterfly

Monday Blues

It wasn't a bad start today. I am used to the music of the 4:45 am alarm of Geeta. No it is not meant to get up, but it is for all the other alarms that follow till 5:45 pm when Rishabh comes back from school.

Geeta frowned when she asked me at 6:30 am if I will take the 8 am train and I said 9 am. Since then I struggled to be on time. So this is my struggle;

It started with a nice time with Rishabh in the morning. He insisted to stay back ( Like Geeta, I should have ignored, but I did'nt thats me) and I lost track of the time. Left home to catch 10:45 am train, but it was late by more than 3 hours. So took a bus and came to Dadar. Had to wait for 30 min to squash myself in the local train and another 30 min for the cab.

Reached office at 4:40 pm, by this time Rishabh would have finished his school and would be taking his evening breakfast. Meanwhile, I will have to carry my lunch in my new lunch box home.

Panshet Trip

A visit to Panshet Dam...

A family outing was on cards for quite some time. It had to be a water body, given Rishabh (Last time it was Kashid beach). We thought like Rishabh "Water, water and more more more water" and decided on Panshet dam, as there were two more dams nearby.

Panshet dam is serene and beautiful place. It is situated 30 km away from the outskirts of Pune. There are two ways to reach there; one from Khadakwasla dam (shorter) and the other through Lavasa.

We had planned for a visit to Panshet on the second day of Diwali, but we coud not go. Rishabh (has 6 days school) had a holiday this Saturday, a rare thingie. So Geeta and I wanted to utilize it to maximum. After initial go-no-go, we said lets go. Rishabh was ready in a jiffy, with his floppy, sand kit and his backpack. We had distract him for an hour; time we took to get ready - clothes, camera, water, closing house etc.. but no food. Geeta kept bread and jam. A smart mum that she is; she also kept Amul Cool, to ensure we are not hungry at any time. We left Magarpatta at 1 pm with a plan to withdraw cash and buy some juice and have food on the way.

Rishabh as usual took the keys led the way to car along with his equipment.

 

I had googled the route and had made a note of important landmarks. None of us had visited the place before. So we drove to Chandani Chowk (by this time Rishabh was fast asleep) and took a road to Pirangut. Pirangut looked like a small city with lot of industries. Roads were good.

 

Same road led us to Lavasa city which is some 30 - 35 km ahead of Pirangut.  The drive through the Ghats is beautiful and roads are good till Lavasa. Rishabh was up and he started enjoying he greenery around and the buffaloes, goats, tower and everything. Chatter box had all the cattle that he needed. 

 

Lush green hills all around and cool breeze makes you fresh, young and energetic. We switched off the air conditioning and rolled down the glasses of the car. We enjoyed the straight drive till Temghar dam, after which we had to cross the hill to reach main gate of Lavasa city. The drive was full of curves and bends. Some very steep hair-pin bends challenge the driving skills. As we drove up the magnificent view of the Temghar dams began to unfold. We stopped for a while at the top for a quick dekho at this breathtaking view. As you look down the hills greenery makes way for red shores which holds vast blue water. It was amazing. (No picture; I am slow to start !!)

We reached Lavasa main gate. We had to go through the Lavasa city to go to Panshet. By this time Geeta was feeling little queasy. She wanted to take a quick nap. Thanks to the big artificial bugs, butterfly etc... used to decorated the city wall, Rishabh was looking around and quite. City has its own helipad, we saw the chopper. Most of the houses were under construction. It will be a great place to live but too far away.

As soon as we left the Lavasa city condition of the roads deteriorated thanks to the heavy trucks and machinery used in the city. For few kilometers roads were pretty bad. But it improved later. I did not had to keep Rishabh engaged, as Geeta slept, he was amazed by the huge water on his right and water streams running on his left through the hills. He kept asking why so much water is stored here?

After sometime he got bored of the water and setting around. He decided to take a nap and displaced Geeta. But he could not sleep due to the bad road. He complained about my driving. He said I am taking too many lefts and rights which is causing pain in his stomach. Later Geeta explained him, its not the driving but the roads. On which he said he would like to repair and build the road again.

We were moving at the speed of 30 - 35 kmph. It was 3 pm. We were hungry. And we realised did not buy any food. There was nothing around, forget hotels no human being. We wanted to reach Panshet early, we were told Panshet is some 25 - 30 km from Lavasa. I had a quick look at the kilometer reading it said some 10 kms more. I insisted that we should keep driving so that we reach Panshet before sunset. Soon we saw the dam wall and decided to take a natural break.

Everyone was waiting for an opportunity to get out of the car and enjoy the lanscape.

Rishabh was cribbing so was Geeta. But I did not stop. When we had to everyone took the opportunity.

Geeta took this opportunity to use the bread jam that she had kept and to our surprise she also took out three cans of Amul Cool and some wadi(s). I had most of the wadi(s).

 Rishabh took this opportunity to inspect the road.

 Get his sand kit out and put it to proper use.

Which is to repair the road.

 And build the road. I used the opportunity to do some photography.                                  

We thought it is Panshet dam but we were wrong it was Varasgaon Dam. On our way we found Surya Shibir and some dwellings. On our inquiry we found this is the only place to stay and it had to be pre booked. Though we were apprehensive, we continued. We also saw a Windsurfing, Sailing and Kayaking resort. They were tents available to stay near on the shore. But there were no vacancies.  We continued and reached Varasgaon Boating club. Here we found couple of place to stay.

We made couple of phone calls and inquired. And a big realisation dawned.  I had only Rs.120/- in my wallet. We did not withdraw any cash. Thankfully in the big hand bag of Geeta there was a small wallet which had Rs1800/-. We did a quick calculation and allocation of money. After which we had some snacks and went for a boat ride at Varagaon Boating club. After the ride Rishabh wanted to take the ride on a blue boat then on a scooter. Both were not working. So we decided to come next day.

While on our way back Rishabh and Geeta chased butterflies and managed to catch one. See pictures in another posting.

We found a very nice place called Parvat Farms to stay with Rs.200/- pp. It was in between the Panshet dam and Varasgaon dam. We could see both the dams from our terrace. Apart from the fact that we were the only occupants in the farm , there was no food and tea. So we had to go down to Panshet Boating club to have our dinner. We had some good time here.

Geeta and Rishabh had some nice fun while we were waiting for the food. Food was delicious.
After our dinner we went back to Parvat farms and did some night sky watching. But Rishabh was more interested in jumping off the bed so we headed back to our room.

Next day we got ready and headed straight at Panshet Boating club for a swim and boat ride. After a good breakfast we hunted for a place where Rishabh could swim or we all can have some fun in water.

Water was very clear and clean. We could see all kinds of fish. With different stripes and colour. We saw some really big fish. Fed them some bread. Saw them fighting for a bite. It was amazing.

Rishabh kept saying he wants  to swim like this ... enacting actions of a swimmer. He got drenched in water. And we managed to convince him out of water to go for a boat ride.

Rishabh managed to find a twig and he carried it all the way back home. He used it aplty on his climb up the boating club.

From far Rishabh would like to do so much in water. Like he came to Panshet to catch a crocodile by its tail and swing it around, throw it away and kill him. He is inspired by Little Krishna (on TV). Because of his talks we set big expectations from him in water. But when he gets in water he is different. He doesn't play his usual games and we keep insisting. He finds his own safe zone and restricts himself within it. It's natural.

We went to the boat ride and thought to put a life jacket on Rishabh to make him enjoy the water. But it did'nt work out.

However, Rishabh's charm rubbed on the boat operators and they took him to a water-scooter ride for free. They were repairing the scooter. Lucky him, he went to the farthest end of the dam and moved around in the middle of the dam.

After which Rishabh thanked everyone and cracked his innocent oneliner and we headed back to Pune.

I was surprised when the Vijay, manager at the boating club told me about the shorter route via Khadakwasla dam. Google maps did not show this route. The road was good and we reached Khadakwasla dam in 15-20 min. It was hardly 15-20 km drive. There were lot of hotels and resorts on this route. We left at 1pm and were in Magarpatta by 3:30 pm after having lunch at Bashree.

Overall, it was a nice trip. We managed to do everything in less than Rs.2000/- (excluding petrol). And had a great time. So much so Geeta has decided to stay here (which I doubt she could). Panshet is a nice get away.

Thanks to Vikram who suggested this place.

Does your attitude impact your photography?

I read an interesting article today. Here is the link - http://bit.ly/jATiM. I am following Scott on twitter since yesterday.  I am keen to apply his steps in general. For reference I am copying the stuff from the article for reference
Here are some steps I am taking to improve my attitude.
a. I am trying not to let my opinion of my circumstances guide my actions. If it’s raining outside, I can either decide the weather is crap or I can decide the weather offers great storm cloud photography options.
b. I am trying to look at my past mistakes to see how I can improve and learn from them rather than lamenting them.
c. I am trying to focus on what’s really important rather than what’s supposed to be urgent.
d. I am trying to challenge my own assumptions about my work and asking if there’s anything I should revisit or revise based on new information, tools or skills.
e. I am trying to ignore any and all echo chambers in the field of photography.
f. I am trying to open my mind and my heart to new ideas.
g. I am trying not to let my emotions get the better of me.
As Scott mentioned - he is trying so shall I.
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