To Pumpkin Plant-by Rajalakshmi Ganeswaran

A lovely surprise! Mahendra "Speedy" Gonsalkorale

When I emailed batchmates regarding our Blog, I had a lovely surprise when Rajalakshmi Ganesvaran-née Chellappah emailed me with a beautiful poem written by her, which I am delighted to post. 

To Pumpkin Plant

by Rajalakshmi Ganeswaran

I planted you as a seedling in the front yard

Fed you with compost from the bin,

You soon took off,

crawling in all directions

Searching for the shining sun

Your lush green leaves mopped up

The carbon emitted by exhausts

helping to reduce global warming

Your golden yellow flowers attracted the

Perishing bees and butterflies

The bees hummed and butterflies

Danced on seeing the powdery pollen

They both got drunk on sucking

The sweetest honey

The plump fruits fed us during

The covid shutdown

Passers-by initially wondered

What this green cover was

Now, I realise you are a rewarding vine

The photos shows her as she appeared in the sig book with a current update.

I subsequently contacted her by email and learnt that after her internship in Jaffna, she worked in the Health Department for about fifteen years, followed by a few years in the UK. She then migrated to Australia in 1990 and worked as a GP for about twenty-five years.

Another "surprise" will follow soon, and this time after "Yankee"  Bala emailed me with some beautiful examples of his woodwork. I am so pleased with the rekindled interest in the Blog.

FAMILY NEWS FEATURE-2

FAMILY NEWS FEATURE: Contribution No 2:  From Dr. Chirasri. D. Jayaweera Bandara

I am pleased to inform you that my daughter, Anjali, has been appointed as a Consultant Eye Surgeon at Dambulla Hospital.

This photograph was taken after the convocation

She passed the MD ophthalmology finals in Sri Lanka and completed her one-year overseas training in Norwich, UK. She passed her FRCOph. UK examination during this period.

I went to the UK to attend her Convocation on September 4, 2024. 

Our time, it was FRCS Lond, conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons, London and the cloak had red panels in front. 

When the The Royal College of Ophthalomologists, UK was formed The FRCOph.UK Certificate was awarded to all those who had the FRCS Lond. Certificate. 

Our batch Bora organised a get-together on the 6th of September in London. Anjali met Mahendra, Nihal, Bora, Harshi, Bernadette and Husband Joe, Kariyawasam and wife Hemanthi, Sunil and wife Srima, Malkanthi and husband David. Some of you might remember Malkanthi from our Peradeniya batch who did the internship at the General Hospital, Colombo and was in the same quarters with Pramilla, Harshi and myself. Her husband, David Anthonise, was a classmate, batchmate and roommate of my brother’s in the Engineering Faculty, Peradeniya. They happen to be very good friends of Bora and Harshi. 

 I am very thankful to Bora for organising this get-together, as we had a lovely time, although Anjali couldn’t wait for the sumptuous meal. I felt embarrassed that I was considered a chief guest and was not allowed to pay for my lunch. 

Link: https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2024/09/gathering-in-london-to-greet-chirasri.html#comment-form

You might remember that Anjali sent a video on Phaco Cataract Surgery, when Mahendra did an interview with me on “ Ask the Expert “ regarding Cataract Surgery on 1.1. 2022. 

Link for “Ask the Expert”  https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2022/01/ask-expert-1-chirasri-jayaweera-bandara.html#comment-form

FAMILY NEWS FEATURE -1

FAMILY NEWS FEATURE: Contribution No 1: FROM SANATH LAMABADUSURIYA

Sanath Lamabadusuriya very kindly responded to my request to batch colleagues to send me news of family members' achievements. Sanath is justifiably proud of his son Harshan. This is his email to me.

Please send me any family news you would like to share.

Dear Mahendra and Nihal,

Thank you very much for the invitation to contribute to our blogspot

Our second son, Harshan Indrajith Lamabadusuriya is currently a Consultant Paediatrician in Swindon. He is an Oxbridge graduate, domiciled in the UK. He is married to Michelle Gunasekere, a Consultant in Nephrology, and has one son, Inesh. 

Before he left for the UK in 1996, when I went there on sabbatical leave with my family, he won many Scrabble tournaments and represented Sri Lanka as well. He became the British National Scrabble champion in 2003, defeating a British physicist 3-0 in the final.

This year he won the UK Open Scrabble Championship, which is more prestigious. because there were participants from all over the world, unlike the earlier tournament which was confined to British citizens.In 2017 he held the world record for the highest number of points for a single word, namely Kreuzers which scored 329 points.

In 2017 he was the runner-up in the World Scrabble Championship.

In the mid 1990s he won the Countdown tournament on Channel 4 of British TV.

He was featured in the London Times recently, the links of which I sent both of you via WhatsApp.

Kind regards,

Sanath

“ADOLESCENCE” - A REVIEW OF A TV SERIES -Srianee Dias

           “ADOLESCENCE” - A REVIEW OF AN EXCEPTIONAL TELEVISION SERIES

                                                  A Cautionary Tale.     By Srianee Dias.

Thanks to Srianee for this brief but most helpful review. If others want to bring a TV or a cinema series like this to our notice, please send them to me. I am sure our readership will love them.- Speedy

 

Several weeks ago, I sat down to watch the first episode of “Adolescence”, which had been recommended by a friend.  It was streaming on Netflix and was not too difficult to locate.  I knew that the subject matter was rather serious, so I had to be in the correct frame of mind to start watching it; a limited series consisting of 4 episodes.

The story is about a young boy who is accused of murdering a classmate.  It is not a “Whodunit” but more of a “Whydunit” as described in a review I read.  Once the first episode was over, I couldn’t stop.  I kept on going, watching all four episodes.  Luckily, I had started my ‘binge watching’ fairly early in the evening.

The story is heartbreakingly simple. 

The family consists of hardworking, normal parents, two teenagers, a daughter, and a son, Jamie.  Like most dads, the father tries to get the young boy involved in sports and other “masculine” activities, but the son prefers drawing and other artistic activities.  When Jamie was spending a lot of time on his computer alone in his room, the parents were not too concerned.  After all, that’s what teenagers do.  Their world turned upside down, however, when the police arrived one day and arrested the boy.  The police had indisputable evidence.

The story continues in the next three episodes, focusing on the questions arising from this event.  What pushed a young, normal boy to commit such a heinous crime?  How does a family cope with such a tragedy?  The creators/writers purposely presented the story from the perpetrator’s perspective, probing into his motives and reasons. 

I don’t want to divulge too many details of the story.  The acting is phenomenal and grips us with the intensity of their emotions. The director uses unusual camera techniques, such as a single take for each episode, which makes everything more real. It is a British production and it is generating a lot of discussion, on the BBC, in the newspapers, and among the general public. I believe the British Prime Minister suggested that it be shown in every middle school. 

I believe it is not the teenage population that needs to see it, but parents who are out of touch with what goes on in their kids’ lives.  We would like to believe our children and grandchildren are safe when they are home in their bedrooms, but are they, really?  There are predators and influencers cruising on the internet who mess with their young, still-developing brains and feed them all kinds of corrupting and harmful ideas.  Their own classmates sometimes gang up on them and bully them. In the show, there is a critical, interesting exchange between the police officer leading the investigation and his young son, where the son explains to his father the meanings of certain emojis and coded words that young people use.  I was certainly unaware of those phrases and terms, most of them derogatory.  (I suggest looking up “Glossary of Gen Z slang” on Wikipedia.)  One of the terms referred to in “Adolescence” is “Incel” which means “involuntary celibate.” 

Many of the readers of the blog are grandparents now, and I hope you will take the time to watch this series. All of us have to think of ways in which we can protect our children from these dangers lurking on the internet.  It is very common in the US for kids to bring their cell phones into the classrooms, and there is much discussion now on how that can be addressed.  I heard today that the UK is considering banning cell phones from classrooms.  Teachers in the US are finding it very difficult to teach distracted students.  My friends and family who have dealt with teaching young children in the US say that even second-grade kids come to school with cell phones.  The problem may be peer pressure and overindulgent parents.  I was amused when someone on BBC News said that parents need to tell their children, “I am not your friend; I am your parent!”  That was a line that I used frequently when my daughters were growing up!  I had no problem saying “No” to them now and then when it was appropriate. They were well aware of the lines they were not allowed to cross while they were in my care.

"To Blog or not to Blog"- by "Speedy" Mahendra Gonsalkorale

 "To Blog or not to Blog"- by Speedy

Keeping in touch- "To Blog or not to Blog, that is the question"

Mahendra "Speedy" Gonsalkorale

A version of this was posted in January 2016, and I felt it might be helpful to revisit it. Come on, my friends, release those thoughts lurking in the background and share them with us!

The Blog was born in 2011, that is 14 years ago! The proud Father was the late Lucky.

I have been wondering for some time why our Blog is not as popular as I was hoping it would be. If we consider how interactive it is, by looking at numbers who comment, then we do fall short by quite a margin. The total number of persons who have commented is below 20 and of these there are now less than 8 very active people.

The questions I am posing are these. 

• Why is the comment rate low? 
• How can we get more people involved? 
• How many of our Batch colleagues actually use it? 
• Does the Blog serve a purpose? Is the time and effort made by Lucky so unselfishly, worth it?
• Is it worth resending a questionnaire by email to get the answers? 

We did one in 2020. There were 30 responses from 74 sent out, a rate of 40.5%, which was bigger than I expected with only 3 in Category (a) Hardly ever visited the Blog. - I posted the findings in the Blog and here is the Link:- https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2020/11/speedygroup-interview-about-our-blog.html#comment-form ).  

Or is this a wider issue about how school friends or University friends keep in touch? We have moved in different directions and we have built up new friendships and we may feel a need to move on putting our past behind us, especially if that part of our past is something we want to forget. We have formed groupings within us based on where we live and our own interests. Our circles have widened and those who we consider worth keeping in touch, we still do but the criterion has to be much wider than “he/she was my batch colleague”. The bonds that we had then have to be very strong for them to survive the ravages of time. We are pleasant when we see each other, but life has taken us in different directions, and we have moved on. We may not feel the need to rekindle the relationship.

Then, there is the question of priorities. There is never enough time to do what we wish to do, and looking at the Blog may not be a priority. 

Like a good restaurant, if we enjoy the experience, we will come back!

There are other possible factors such as familiarity with computers and the Internet. I still have friends who get their children to set up their TV, check their email!

How much a person uses anything depends a lot on how useful (enjoyable) it is to that person. The Blog may be an avenue to display our talents (music/poetry with me  and writing/painting with ND and  painting with Chira). It may be a pleasant way to spend time reminiscing. It may rekindle old friendships. It gives us an opportunity to rejoice at the success of colleagues (e.g. Lama), it may be a medium to recall with pleasure a time we were together at a critical phase of our life, it can be a way to show our appreciation to our Teachers, it could be a medium to enlist help for a good cause connected with our Medical Faculty. It has also reminded us of our mortality with the growing number of obituary notices.

I have posed many questions and indicated why the Blog still has much to offer. I am a firm believer in putting the past behind and moving on. There is no time like the present moment but the present moment could be enriched by learning from the past; but avoid dwelling in the past pondering on the “what might have been”. That kind of reflection, the “what might have been”, is pointless, corrosive, and a recipe for discontent.

But to me, what is important in the final analysis is not how frequently we keep in touch but the ability to pick up and continue from where we left. I felt that very much at the last Batch Reunion when I met colleagues after so many years.

So come on my friends, pull out your fingers and start typing on your keyboards either as a comment, or as an email to one of us. As for me, I enjoy reading the Blog and contributing to it and shall continue to do so. 

Please send anything you like to post, to me by email if you are uncomfortable about writing a new post, send me a draft and  I am only too happy to edit and publish it, or publish it as it is if that is your wish.

In conclusion, I am proud of our Batch, a Batch of achievers and an example to emulate.

The Stethoscope and those memories of a lifetime By Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

The Stethoscope and those memories of a lifetime

By Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

“If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.”― Rabindranath Tagore

My early childhood was spent in Nugegoda. I stayed with my grandparents smothered with love and affection. My father was helping to grease the wheels of the government far away from the Metropolis. My grandpa was an apothecary caring for the sick and the suffering. He was often seen leaving the house with his stethoscope. Whenever I fell ill he used this instrument to listen to my chest. I was simply fascinated and intrigued by this device with its brown tubes and black bell. These are my earliest recollections of an awesome instrument that changed the way doctors diagnosed heart and lung disease.

Laennec painted by ND

The stethoscope has become a talisman and so much of a part of every doctor. The word stethoscope comes from the Greek words stethos, meaning chest, and skopein, meaning to explore. The amazing story of the invention of this astounding instrument is steeped in history. 

In the autumn of 1816, Dr. Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec, a French Physician was walking in the courtyard of the Le Louvre Palace in Paris. He observed two children playing. Each one had a piece of wood placed on the ear. The pieces of wood were connected by a taut string. The taps from one piece of wood reached the other piece. In those early days the heart sounds and beathing was heard by the doctor placing the ear on the patient’s chest. Once when a young lady came to Dr Laënnec for treatment, he was bashful and felt uneasy to place his ear on her chest. He made a tube with a sheet of paper and placed one end on the chest to listen. This wasn’t perfect but caused less embarrassment to the patient and the doctor. He remembered the acoustic phenomenon used by the 2 boys. 

Laënnec spent several years trying to perfect an instrument and decided on a hollow wooden tube that amplified the sounds. This became the forerunner to the modern stethoscope. Doctors used wooden tubes as stethoscopes until the latter half of the 19^th century. It took many more years to develop the modern bell and diaphragm type of stethoscope. In 1861 an Irish physician named Arthur Leared created a binaural model with two earpieces on the ends of stiff metal tubes. In 1862, George P. Camman of New York perfected the design using flexible tubes with smaller ear connections. 

This binaural stethoscope was commercially produced. In appearance, his instrument is similar to the ones used today.

After I entered the faculty of Medicine in Colombo, I learnt the inherent magic of this device and how to use it as a diagnostic tool. No other symbol so strongly identifies a doctor than a stethoscope. In Sri Lanka the device became an icon of intellect and skill. Hence, doctors enjoyed great esteem from the public. Some of this adulation filtered down to medical students. Even as a student I took great pride in displaying my stethoscope prominently. I had it round my neck on my long walks in the hospital wards and corridors. This self-assured hubris among medics have now waned. The stethoscope is ubiquitously used in hospitals and surgeries by many different healthcare workers.

After I ended my professional life, there is always an irresistible desire to return to my roots. As a Diagnostic Radiologist, I never used a stethoscope. Now, when I see a stethoscope, it takes me back many decades to the time I spent with my grandparents. It is now a symbol of my childhood more than my profession. This transports me back to Nugegoda and those happy years.  

My grandparents

Nugegoda then was a sleepy little town that prided itself on its peaceful ambience. People were charming, friendly and helpful. They were religious and converged on the temple and the church for refuge and direction. The landscape was green and its beauty touched us with grace. The mornings were magical as the dew on the grass shone brightly. The shady streets were lined with tall flamboyant trees. The town was a paradise for birds. There were vast stretches of uncultivated green land through which ran a few narrow dusty gravel roads. There were hardly any cars. Heavy commerce and trade hadn’t arrived here yet. There was no large industry in and around Nugegoda and jobs were scarce.

As darkness descended hundreds of bats took over the skies. I still recall how quiet and dark the nights were. We heard the eerie croaking of frogs and the din of crickets. The fireflies always remind me of Nugegoda of the 1950’s. It was only the rumblings of the Kelani Valley trains that punctuated the silence. There was no respite from the mosquitoes that tormented us every night.

My grandpa was a softly spoken, quiet, noble man from Kandy. From the time I can remember he had grey hair. He took life easy but worked diligently. The locals knew he was a medical man and came to him at all hours for help. He was much more, a philosopher, an expert in country lore, an amateur astrologer and an old character of a type that was endangered and nearly extinct. He was not interested in money except the bare minimum to sustain his family. The people respected him enormously and he relished the adulation.

My grandma was a qualified nurse in the Mold of Florence Nightingale. She was kind and caring and grew up in Ibbagamuwa near Kurunegala. Grandma was a sprightly, intelligent woman with lots of courage and foresight. She helped to drive the family forward through uncertain times.

Time passed swiftly and relentlessly. The ravages of time affected my grandparents. In the autumn of their lives, they had the respect and love of the extended family. As their eyesight and hearing gradually failed, they were mostly confined to home. Whenever I visited them, I saw their decline. They had a huge repertoire of old family stories and amusing anecdotes which they shared on our visits. Grandma kept touching mementoes of our family, like photographs and paper cuttings, which she cherished immensely. To her every photo spoke volumes.

Their end came peacefully. Grandpa passed away aged 89. I was then in London and felt the loss deeply. After his death, for grandma life became an ordeal. She led a quiet life and remained fit but frail. I have often seen her sitting alone wrapped in her own thoughts. Memories of the past stared at her from every room, as did photographs and family occasions. The great void in her life could never be filled. Grandma passed away at the age of 86 years. They both served their communities with pride and worked for the Health Service with dedication and devotion. I will always remember grandma’s diligence, energy and enthusiasm and grandpa’s calm, reflective kindness. To me it was an end of an era.

More than seven decades have passed since I first set foot on Nugegoda. During the past 50 years I have lived in the UK and visited Sri Lanka occasionally. On a visit to Nugegoda in 2012, the changes that greeted me were astonishing. Our former house didn’t survive the wrath of the bulldozers. It was demolished and became a car park. The town is now bustling and busy. Prosperity has come to the town with better shops, fine supermarkets, wider roads, modern communications and good transport. Bristling billboards and signposts line the roads. Many of the old houses have been pulled down. The few that remained look like relics from a lost civilisation. The nouveau riche preferred to live in large, detached houses, behind high walls and security gates.

Urbanisation of a town is inevitable but seemingly it has taken place randomly. Nugegoda has experienced a devastatingly rapid, unsympathetic expansion. The industrial and residential areas are mixed with office space. There is no designated green belt to preserve as an area for peace and relaxation. The result is a cauldron of light, noise and environmental pollution, a serious health hazard. This is what remains of the once austere, puritanical Nugegoda of the fifties. Its past elegance lay buried under layers of asphalt and concrete.

I have rambled on and revived ancient and half-forgotten memories of a town with its own personality, heart and soul. Although the magic of the old Nugegoda still haunts me, the loveliness and enchantment of that peaceful town I knew is now a distant memory. Within the time frame of a single generation, it has changed beyond recognition. It hurts when I think about its former glory and the people who made it so special.

I have painted a portrait to honour and respect Dr. Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec for his brilliant and important invention. The Stethoscope transformed healthcare. But I dedicate this narrative to the memory of my grandparents. They both gave me life and hope. It is only now I realise the depth of their influence on my life. Their love, warmth and encouragement will never be forgotten.

FUNNIEST QUOTES ABOUT AGEING. Sent by Suriyakanthie Amarasekera

 FUNNIEST QUOTES ABOUT AGEING

Sent by Suriyakanthie Amarasekera

 

"Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you are aboard, there is nothing you can do about it." - Golda Meir 

"The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that never happened. Mark Twain 

"As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two." - Sir Norman Wisdom 

"When your friends begin to flatter you on how young you look, it’s a sure sign you’re getting old." - Mark Twain 

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen." - Mark Twain 

"A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, ‘At my age, I don’t even buy green bananas.’" - Claude Pepper 

"If you want to know how old a woman is, then ask her sister-in-law." - Edgar Howe 

"Looking fifty is great—if you’re sixty." - Joan Rivers 

"At age 20, we worry about what others think of us… at age 40, we don’t care what they think of us… at age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all." - Ann Landers 

"I don't do alcohol anymore—I get the same effect just standing up fast." -  Unknown

"I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a lot more as they get older, and then it dawned on me—they’re cramming for their final exam."- George Carlin 

"I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s time for my nap." - Bob Hope 

"I’m 59, and people call me middle-aged. How many 118-year-old men do you know?"- Barry Cryer 

“By the time you’re 80 years old you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” - George Burns 

"Regrets are the natural property of grey hairs."  Charles Dickens

The Carnival of Venice. Nihal D Amerasekera

The Carnival of Venice

By Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

I was just a child in 1952 when my father was transferred to Gampaha. Formerly called Henarathgoda, it is a town made up by the merging of five villages. When Sir Edward Barnes, a British Governor, paid a visit to the area in 1825, it was a dense forest.  He decided to construct a railway through the area and to have a station at Henarathgoda. This effectively ignited great interest in the area.

In the 1950’s Gampaha was still a small town and amazingly peaceful. It could not boast of lush green mountains or a deep blue sea, but the air was clean and the people were friendly. It was a place of beauty, loveliness and enchantment. Its claim to fame was the Botanical Gardens where Ceylon’s first rubber tree was planted.

As the British left us in 1948, we were free to rule ourselves. I was then far too young to appreciate the vast political and social changes taking place around me. I was happily oblivious to these enormous changes but as I grew up, learnt to accept them like the rest of my countrymen. The crucial goal of uniting Sri Lanka's people was overshadowed by the melee of parliamentary politics. It is easier to be scornful of the past than of the present. With the introduction of free education and healthcare, lives changed for the better for the many.

We then lived in a splendid old house on Colombo Road, Gampaha opposite the Government Hospital. It was the ancestral home of Cyril Goonetilleke, a property tycoon, entrepreneur and socialite who had inherited tremendous wealth. The house had water on tap and flushing toilets, then a luxury anywhere outside the metropolis. Cyril was away in London studying for his law degree. He left the front room of the house for himself loaded with his paraphernalia. Being a teenager, I was curious. I surreptitiously crept into his room to explore its treasures. There was a bed, a desk and several old cupboards full of clothes and books. They were covered in layers of dust. On the floor was a His Masters Voice (HMV) winding-up gramophone. Next to it was a dust-ridden stack of 78 RPM vinyl records. Most of it didn’t appeal to me. I loved the “Carnival of Venice” and played it repeatedly. The hiss and crackle of worn-out needles was never a deterrent. This was a superb rendition beautifully played on the trumpet by Harry James who was a famous trumpeter of the 1940s. He was so well known for his virtuosity and lovely melodic style. This melody simply stuck to my memory.  I was delighted to hear it when played on the airwaves of Radio Ceylon.

The song "Carnival of Venice" is based on a Neapolitan folk song called "O Mamma, Mamma Cara". This was composed by Niccolò Paganini an Italian composer and violinist (1782 – 1840).  The music with a fast tempo was written for the solo coronet. He composed the Carnival of Venice circa 1829. As his fame grew, he indulged in excessive gambling and numerous romantic affairs. This took its toll and he had to pawn his violin to pay his debts. Despite his troubles Paganini’s music thrived and he became a director of music. His compositions and playing technique experienced great success in his appearances in Vienna, Paris and London. Sadly, Paganini’s life was blighted by the social consequences of his gambling habit which returned to trouble him until the end of his life.

During my teenage years, music had a very special appeal. 1955 saw the emergence of Rock 'N Roll music. Bill Haley succeeded in creating a music that appealed to youth because of its exciting backbeat, its urgent call to dance, and the action of its lyrics. The booming base and the twang of electric guitars produced a foot-tapping sound. Then the music of Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard and the Shadows was all-consuming to us teenagers. The music fashions changed constantly. In the 1960’s the music of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and others became popular. Although I enjoyed the new music my love for the “Carnival of Venice” never waned.

Indeed, time does fly. The years passed swiftly and relentlessly. The ebb and flow of my fortunes brought happiness and despair in equal measure. I had stepped on the treadmill to carve myself a career and raise a family. I finally settled in a leafy suburb in Hertfordshire 50 miles north of London. When our sons started to play musical instruments, I rekindled my love for the “Carnival of Venice”. They too loved the piece and played it often. I now could listen to the various versions of it played by different orchestras. The Mills brothers sang it in 1951 and I remember this being popular in Ceylon. The song, "How Much Is that Doggie in the Window?" is based on this tune and was a hit in 1952. Many artistes used the tune and made hits including Hank Snow and Danny Kaye. Most notable of those variations have been by the composer Joseph Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825–1889) who arranged the music for the cornet or trumpet. The one I listened most often is played on the clarinet by Duncan Prescott. This was simply the best for his sheer artistry and the control of his clarinet. The Harry James version still brings back nostalgic memories of Gampaha. Wynton Marsalis is an American classical trumpeter who plays it brilliantly with a modern style.

Meanwhile, the river of life has run on and youth passed into middle age. When I ended my professional career, it gave me the time to delve into the history of this magical piece of music. Venice is situated in the Veneto Region of Northeast Italy and spread over 118 small islands. It is considered as an architectural masterpiece. This city on water connects the many islands with over 400 bridges. Venice has had a tremendous influence on world architecture and monumental arts. Visitors arriving here is transported to a world of marbled palaces, bell towers, domes and gondolas. St. Mark's Basilica and its square has stood proudly at the heart of Venetian life for centuries.

The Venice Carnival is one of the oldest annual festivals in the world and dates back to 1162 AD. Legend has it, this was to celebrate a military victory over its enemy. But subsequently, the carnival became directly related to the Christian period of Lent. The word “carnival “is derived from the Latin word “Carne Vale” meaning “farewell to meat” to celebrate the Christian period of Lent when abstinence from meat is practiced for 40 days. The Venice Carnival takes place each year in February in St Mark’s Square in Venice. During the Carnival people paraded on the streets of Venice wearing colourful masks. This allowed them to protect their identity and remove any social differences. Unfortunately, when Venice came under the rule of Francis II in 1798 the Carnival was outlawed and almost completely disappeared for nearly two centuries. The carnival was revived in 1979 with its distinctive traditions and celebrations making Venice as one the best Carnival destinations for tourists from all over the world. This indeed rejuvenated Venice’s culture, heritage and economy. Every Spring people from across the world visit this floating city and take part in this unique celebration. The carnival is such a joyful event. It displays a riot of colour, magical music and an unforgettable spectacle. Colourful costumes, elaborate masks and fascinating historical re-enactments make this 2-week party an impressive experience.

The human memory is a miracle of nature. Like a time traveller, I have turned back the clock 7 decades.  I never returned to Gampaha town or the house ever again. The house was later bought by a doctor who razed it to the ground and built a 2-storey Surgery for his practice.

The “Carnival of Venice” still brings back many memories of my parents and friends who shared my life in Gampaha. It was a time of peace and contentment in my life. These nostalgic memories distil the spirit of an era now long gone. I dedicate these notes to my parents for their infinite love which sadly I could never fully reciprocate.

More paintings by Nihal D Amerasekera

More paintings by Nihal D Amerasekera

Another selection of Nihal's paintings. This is the first instalment of his latest paintings.

They are very usefully accompanied by a short description.

Taj Mahal

Taj mahal is a marble mausoleum on the banks of the yamuna river. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal completed around 1654. Shah Jehan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and was kept under house arrest at the Agra Fort from where he could see the Taj Mahal. Shah Jehan died in 1666, and he was buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal has become a prominent image that is associated with India, and in this way has become a symbol of India itself.

St Andrew’s Church in Haputale

Built in 1869, St Andrew’s Church is the oldest building in Haputale. This is an iconic structure consecrated by the Anglican Church. The altar is surrounded by stained glass windows imported from Scotland that depict the significant events in the life of Jesus. It has a marble baptismal font, imported from England, located at the entrance of the church. Rev W.S Senior’s ashes are buried in this church. He was a classical scholar from Cambridge who was once the Principal of Trinity College Kandy. He wrote the Hymn for Ceylon for which he will be forever remembered.

Stilt fishermen

Stilt fishermen are still a common site in Unawatuna and Weligama area. Although the history of fishing goes back 40,000 years stilt fishing is more recent and goes back to the 2^nd World War period. As there were food shortages people at first started fishing from shipwrecks and plane-wrecks in the sea. As they were able to catch many fish that way they went on to wooden stilts. They catch herring and mackerel. Now as the catch is dwindling this method of fishing may gradually stop with the passage of time. It remains a tourist attraction now. Personally, stilt fishing brings back many memories as my father worked in Weligama in the early 1960s.

Dambulla Cave temple 

 Dambulla Cave temple is a world heritage site. Statues and paintings within the caves remain the main attraction. The caves contain human remains 2700 years old and were inhabited by prehistoric humans before the arrival of Buddhism to the country. The Buddhist statues and paintings date back to the 1^st century BC and traditionally have been assigned as the work of Valagamba. Nissanka Mall of Polonnaruwa added 90 paintings in the year 1190.  Much of the later restoration work was done by the Kandyan Kings. The caves still remain a functioning monastery.

Buduruvagala temple

Buduruvagala is a temple from the 10^th century which is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Wellawaya in the Monaragala district. The temple belongs to the Mahayana school. Buduruvagala means "the rock of Buddhist Sculptures". There are 7 statues in all. The central statue is of Lord Buddha and this shows traces of orange colour remnants of the ancient paint. To the right of the Buddha are mythological figures and to the left is a consort. There is a flame shape carved into the rock. Within the shape there is a certain wetness with a mustard smell. How this liquid gets there still remains a mystery. This temple has remained a popular place of pilgrimage since ancient times.

Lynton and Lynmouth

Lynton and Lynmouth are quaint villages by the sea in North Devon. They are famous for the Cliff Railway, a water powered funicular railway. The towns are in the Exmoor National Park. The scenic beauty of the area is said to resemble the landscape of Switzerland. I would urge you to visit the area if ever you are in Devon. The painting shows the pleasantly old-fashioned houses of Lynton and Lynmouth facing the sea.  

THE BITTER PILL OF EXERCISE. Srianee Dias

THE BITTER PILL OF EXERCISE NEED NOT BE BITTER

Srianee Dias

Most of us have reached that age when one has to work hard at keeping our muscles and joints well-lubricated and in working order. I have better luck at keeping my car in working order than my own body because I pay someone else to work on my car. 

Keeping my muscles strong, however, is my responsibility and no one else can do it for me.  The problem is that I hate exercise routines because they are so boring! It is so much more fun to put my feet up and read a book while listening to my favourite music.

I keep reminding myself that it’s important to do them, just as important as taking one’s medication prescribed by a doctor.  I have come to terms with the fact that if I am destined to live long (my mother lived to be 93), I have to remain independent.  There is no point in living long if one is limited by a lack of mobility and dependent on others. I have decided now to give the boring exercise routines the same level of priority as swallowing the daily pill to control mild hypertension.

Some of us are natural athletes and like to play golf, badminton, tennis and other sports, which is wonderful because it also involves engaging with other people, another important bonus.  There are others who attend gyms regularly and work with personal trainers.  However, those activities require investing a fair amount of time and making plans with others.  I suggest that we ( the less motivated types) find some activities that we can do every day for 15 to 20 minutes.  These routines should help us improve our balance and our muscle strength.  We don’t need fancy equipment.  One can walk outside for a few minutes when the weather is cooperative.  There are many, many YouTube videos with exercises designed especially for seniors.  I think it helps to vary the routine, to prevent boredom. It is also important to choose routines that will not cause injury.  It is important, however, to give it priority and not just be something that we do when we have a little time left in the day.  I think if we give it the same level of importance as brushing our teeth or the prescribed medication we stick to swallowing without a second thought, it may help us stay on track.

I would love to hear what my friends are doing to keep themselves limber and mobile.

The Sad Tale of UkiRani and Ruso (contd)...Act II

The Sad Tale of UkiRani and Ruso (contd)... Mahendra Gonsalkorale

Act II

Setting: Ruso and Youeseh sat in Ruso’s lavish apartment enjoying a Vodka.

Ruso: It is good of you to come and meet me Youeseh or shall I use your pet name Chump?

Youeseh: Good to see you too Ruso, nice, really nice and you can call me Chump if it is easier. You are a good man Ruso, a really nice man and I like you.

Ruso: You know of course that UkiRani did not listen to me and refused not to invite Nato. I warned her of the consequences and sadly, my intervention in her country led to a lot of unnecessary grief and destruction. But you know me, what had to be done had to be done and those who died… well sometimes we have to look at the greater good and what greater good can there be than provide staunch support for a fearless brave man like me, easily the greatest Russian in history. I would have said that earlier but modesty stopped me. I don’t mind saying this to the greatest American President!

Ruso stands up to make this modest statement and sits down, looking quite pleased.

Chump: You are kind, very kind. I know I know. It shouldn’t have happened. It would not have happened if I was in charge but sadly, that chump Byedan was there and he was useless, pretty useless. It shouldn’t have happened and I am sorry you had to call their bluff. You are a great man, just like me, destined to make the World a better place, for you and me.

Ruso: I had no option Chump. UkiRani and her team are far too close to my border and I had to show her who is boss.

Chump: I know, I know. It should never have happened. It should never have happened. All those millions who died. Real shame, real shame, it should not have happened.

Ruso: What is your advice to me now my valued and strong friend Chump? How can I get out of this mess?

Chump leans forward in his chair, with his long blue tie falling between his parted legs. He points and wags a finger while twisting his neck and face, his lips pouting.

Chump: Listen to me Ruso. If this goes on there will be no winners, only losers and I am not going to waste my dollars helping this to go on. UkiRani knows this and is worried about it. You might say, what about Urope and his friends? Let me tell you, Urope and friends are disorganised and in deep shit (pardon the expression) with their finances. Some may shout about continued support for UkiRani, like that useless weakling Stammer from the UK who should really keep out of this; he has enough problems in his own country. But they know you are strong and cannot be defeated. You have always been strong, so strong Ruso, a man after my own heart, a man who believes that law and order must be observed,  so long as it helps you, and who does what he wants and states boldly, very boldly, to these bureaucrats who interfere with progress, your progress, they will be fired and make no mistake!

Ruso glows with pride and tries to comb his hair forgetting for a moment, he has no hair.

Ruso: Thank you my friend. If UkiRani knows that she cannot rely on your support, I am sure she will agree to my terms, which I shall state in such a way that she does not feel like a loser, although in fact she is one, as you well know.

Chump: You got it right Ruso. UKiRani will have no option but to agree to a Peace agreement where she will need to concede some territory but have the satisfaction that the war will end. But I have one very potential big problem Ruso. Will she accept not to accept the protection of Nato? If she digs her heels and insist that Nato should be given the right to protect her, what should I do? What is your advice Ruso?

To be continued….

The Sad Tale of UkiRani and Ruso. Mahendra "Speedy" Gonsalkorale

The Sad Tale of UkiRani and Ruso

Mahendra Gonsalkorale. 17^th February 2025

 Act 1

Setting: Living room in UkiRani’s house in Europe. UkiRani is seated on a sofa knitting.

Enter Ruso, looking very agitated: he bows to UkiRani and addresses her.

Ruso: Hello, my lovely UkiRani. I have come to see you on a matter of the greatest importance. This is not just a simple neighbourly call.

UkiRani: Why, Hello, Ruso! And what is this all about? Pray be seated.

Ruso sits down as requested. Looks uncomfortable and avoids the gaze of UkiRani.

Ruso: This is a rather delicate matter and I crave your indulgence and patient understanding.

UkiRani: You got me all of a flutter now, Ruso; pray, what is it?

Ruso: Rumour has it that you are getting very close to my enemy Nato and are considering allowing him to protect you. Nato, as you well know, is not the sort of person I would like a kind and beautiful soul like you to keep company with.

UkiRani: Oh! Come on Ruso! Nato is not really my friend but who can refuse a kind offer like his to protect me!

Ruso: But Nato is devious, and I hate to say this as I don’t want to upset a kind soul and indeed a close neighbour like you with whom I have had such a long association, but…

UkiRani: Yes Ruso, but…what?

Ruso: It is fair that you should be warned. Let me say again, as I have said many times, that I love you and would never do anything to harm you, but even such strong love as mine has limits. I hope you understand.

UkiRani gets up and looks directly at Ruso with a stern but sympathetic expression.

UkiRani: My dearest Ruso, as much as I care for you, I would not like you to tell me who I should like or dislike. I am an independent soul perfectly capable of managing my own affairs. I hope you understand that.

Ruso looks tormented as he walks to the open window, stares out, and returns to address UkiRani as she gazes at him anxiously.

Ruso: My dearest UkiRani, this is not easy to put across to you, but put it across, I must. If you insist on having ties with Nato, you will be responsible for the consequences. I beg of you to listen to me and ignore what that other “friend” of yours-Ha! Friend indeed!- is telling you and keep away from Nato. This other person, Youeseh, is dangerous and wants to spread his influence all over the World. I beg of you not to take advice from that scoundrel and listen to me, me who has such long ties with you and me, who shall never harm you…unless you leave me no alternative, and that will be so sad.

UkiRani returns to her sofa, quite distressed and after a short period of silence, addresses Ruso.

UkiRani: That was quite a speech young Ruso! However, I have to Put you in your place. My friendship with Nato is not intended to harm you Ruso, or any of my neighbours. We have far too much in common and much to lose.

Ruso, red-faced and angry, looks directly at UkiRani

Ruso: That is good to hear, but I am deeply saddened if you insist on letting in Nato and value the advice of Youeseh, that megalomaniac scoundrel, much more than mine. In which case, I have no alternative but to take action to protect my country, and that will be a sad day for all of us.

Ruso turns around and storms out of the room.UkiRani is speechless and stares at him close to tears as he leaves in a huff.

UkiRani:  I know him only too well. He will never invade my territory as he knows quite well that it will cause such unspeakable agony.

Postscript: Ruso could not accept UkiRani’s friendship with Nato, and “all hell erupted”.

The End

Act 2 to follow

Hearing aids and their importance. Mahendra Gonsalkorale

Hearing aids and their importance

Mahendra Gonsalkorale

This is an important topic that Srianee brought to our notice.  I wrote a new article that included the relevant material from her comment on the subject in the previous post.

The topic relates to these main areas.

1)   The importance of detecting hearing loss early.

2)  The cosmetic aspects of wearing hearing aids and how they relate to our concept of identity (how we wish to be seen and regarded).

3)   The good fortune to live at a time when there are excellent options to make hearing loss no longer a handicap.

4)   The rewards of persistence when faced with early problems but continuing to wear them.

On the first point, as Srianee has indicated, there is good evidence that if remedial aids are not worn, the hearing loss will continue with evidence of irreversible changes in the auditory cortex. (like turning the water flow (auditory stimulation) to feed a plant from a stream to a trickle). If aids are worn, this process is slowed down. The auditory loss has profound consequences for maintaining our intellect also as if uncorrected, the brain loses the advantages of communicating with others, keeping up to date with information and losing the rewards that auditory stimuli can provide. 

The take-home lessons are:-

Expect hearing loss as we age – especially after 70 yr. (Over half the population aged 55 or more have hearing loss. 80% of people over 70 will have hearing loss). These hearing loss population estimates are calculated using the most robust data available on the prevalence of hearing loss (average hearing levels of 20dB or worse in one or both ears) for adults aged 18 to 80, combined with population estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Source RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People).

Get your hearing tested by a competent audiologist. The services vary in different countries, but a simple hearing assessment won’t break your purse or threaten you with penury!

Choose from the wide range available as we all have different perceptions of what is suitable (cosmetic, comfort, power: disposable batteries or rechargeable) etc. Digital ones are by far the best and you can choose from a wide range from behind the ear, in-ear, hardly visible etc. Most providers give a 3-month trial period free of charge with no commitment to buy as they know from experience that the vast majority, although initially shocked at the cost, decide to keep them as the rewards are so great.

I would advise wearers to wear them all the time except when showering, bathing, etc and take them off at night.

At first, it may be slightly uncomfortable, but if you persist, you don’t even notice that you are wearing them.

I have worn different types for 20 years! Initially, I was very self-conscious and did not want others to know that I wore aids. It was as I realised with wisdom, a wrong belief which could only harm me.  I soon appreciated that it made a huge difference in my life, and I have no reservations about recommending them. Like Srianee, I would go for rechargeable batteries. If you feel self-conscious, this is natural, but very soon, you realise that to be seen wearing hearing aids is not a stain on your character. It does not reduce the esteem people have for you. I always announce to new people that I wear hearing aids as even with the best aids, your hearing cannot match normal hearing. People then appreciate that you are not stupid when they talk to you and become much more understanding and often modify the way they speak by more deliberate pronunciation and the use of visual cues. You must be prepared to meet the odd person who will shout at you and talk to you as if you are an imbecile, but these ignorant people are, fortunately, rare. You will be surprised how much visual cues play a role in communicating. Watching is as important as hearing, that's why people with impaired hearing often are worse when the lighting is poor.

I wear black in-ear aids as I found the behind the ear ones with a small pipe ending in an almost invisible ear plug (earphone) uncomfortable and messy to manage. I made the decision after trying both, and furthermore, rechargeable batteries were available only for the in-ear ones. I feel no shame in wearing them (like wearing specs if you have problems with sight), and it is understandable that some don’t like to wear them as they feel that they convey a wrong impression; that of an ageing, decrepit old person! (although even if so, being old and decrepit is not something to be ashamed of at all. (Being conceited, selfish, and lacking in empathy or patience are the bad ones! ).

I hope you find this useful. Please contact me directly or via the blog if you need more clarification or information.

Here are the comments in Srianee’s  Embracing Technology post.

Srianee

I would like to take a little detour now and write about another technical innovation that has improved my life. My hearing aids (plural). A few years ago my family (my daughters in particular) were complaining that I was making them repeat what they were saying. “Mom, you need to get your hearing checked!” My response was, “Oh you people mumble” or “You talk to me while walking away from me.” I’m sure that sounds very familiar to many of you. I finally relented and got my hearing checked out. The verdict was “mild hearing loss” and I was given the option of trying out a pair of hearing aids for 3 months. I was told that I could return them if I felt that they didn’t improve my hearing. I tried them out and I was converted! I certainly didn’t want to return them. 

I am now an ardent advocate for the use of hearing aids before the hearing loss becomes too severe. Unfortunately, hearing aids are expensive and not very user-friendly. But, It is easier to get accustomed to using them when you are seventy than when you are ninety. I would recommend getting the rechargeable types, because fiddling with the tiny batteries is not an easy task.

Most new hearing aids can be adjusted using the bluetooth function on a smart phone. Of course, the two devices need to be ‘paired.’ (The people who supplied the hearing aids did that for me.) 

I know that many people don’t want to wear them all the time. Why? If it is not part of your routine like brushing your teeth, you will forget to wear them daily. On most days I don’t have anyone else in my home conversing with me, but yet I wear my hearing aids, because every sound I hear, the chirping of the birds outside my window or the music I am listening to, is sending stimulating signals to my brain, and that is a very good thing.

 There is growing evidence that if hearing loss is not corrected in time, cognitive loss will occur. This is a very important reason for getting one’s hearing checked. If hearing aids are recommended, make the effort to learn how to use them effectively. Once you master the finer points, you will experience many wonderful things that you never knew you were missing!

Nihal

Thank you Srianee for bringing up an important topic. Hearing is vital for our well being at any age. At our age it is essential to maintain contact with friends and family and to keep our minds in gear.

Hearing aid seem like an important accessory for old age and a very useful one too. I listen to a lot of classical music often at great cost to myself, at the concert halls in London. When I found that I couldn’t hear the high notes of the violins I thought my hearing wasn’t good enough and got my hearing tested. The person who tested me was a pretty Afrikaans lady. Her accent was hard to decipher and I wasn’t sure if it was my hearing or her accent that was the problem. Anyhow we struggled through the test. I went for a basic behind the ear hearing aid (BTE) which changed my hearing and my life for the better.

There are a few issues with the contraption. At my age I do not mind its bulk and ‘unsightly’ appearance. There are occasional extraneous noises like squeaks specially while in a crowded noisy room. I have learnt to ignore them. It is a hindrance than a help speaking in a room with a large gathering. I remove them and manage ok.

The hearing aid is a foreign body hanging on to my ear. After a couple of hours it gets tiresome and I remove them. I tend to wear them every day but in short bursts when I’m listening to music. This seems like a good compromise.

My hearing aid requires batteries and I cope quite well changing them weekly.

Srianee

Nihal, thank you for sharing your experience with your hearing aids. The current designs with the microphones tucked behind the ear is not the most efficient. But, if there is a visible contraption in front of the ear, people will be even more reluctant to wear them. I saw something on TV recently, where the hearing aids are incorporated into spectacle frames. The microphones are in the front of the frames, and the sound is transmitted to the receivers that go into your ear invisibly through the spectacle frames. I'm not sure if such hearing aids are commercially available. The biggest hurdle for most people is the cost.