Razaque Ahamat writes.....

This is an e-mail (unedited) sent by Razaque

This is slightly belated, but cannot disappoint Rohini Ana as she was very keen to hear about  the 'incidents' that took place in my recent hospitalisation. It appears that they seem to follow me around!!

Anyway at a rather 'turbulent' period in our Blog, what... with all that Dosa & Vadai dialogue that went on and of course the jubilation of reaching the milestone of a MILLION posts on the Blog, let me say 'BIG THANK YOU' to you for all your untiring  efforts and to all the participants in these 7 years or so for their contribution, without which it could not have achieved so  much success. One moment to those shunned or who were indifferent to participate in this Forum..... "You do not, nor will ever know WHAT YOU HAVE MISSED OUT ON?".

Now for the main item of my hospital 'experience'. You all know that I was admitted to hospital as an emergency on 3 occasions within a few days. When I was admitted with my 'so called chest pain', it was an Irish student nurse who documented initial details. At one point she asked me "Do you live with your wife?" To which I replied with mischief "Yes... with my first wife". She was taken aback. Of course there were other nurses and docs & students who were 'eavesdropping' looked at me with some concern. The female Registrar smiling asked me "How many?" To which I replied "only one"...  relief to some & 'disappointment' to others who wanted to know more of the sordid details. Then I was asked why I said 'lived with my first wife?'. To which I replied "I have only one wife --- only the first one, and I was not telling a lie, was I ??" There was laughter and that 'broke the ice'.

I was then transferred from A&E to the short-stay Acute Medical Ward that had 8 bays with 6 patients in each. It was only then that I realised that it was an Uni-Sex ward!!!... lucky me!! I also realised that I was the only male in that bay...... 'the only COCK in the HEN coop'!!! .....By the way the term 'HEN' is an endearing term in Scotland for the female of the species, although 'COCK' does not refer to males!!! As night fell the two beds on either side of me fell vacant (either discharged or sent to Specialist wards). There were all types of monitoring devices bleeping away, but that did not bother me as the 2 beds next to me were now occupied by two more women of 'ginormous' proportions that I had very rarely seen ever before!! When it was time to sleep and the lights dimmed & curtains round the beds closed 'IT' began. Noises from both sides like 'staccato machine gun fire' ...  volley after volley!!.... they both were FARTING away merrily. I was kept awake by this. Then there was some activity in isle as nurses were talking to the two  ladies. Then the 'machine gun fire' stopped and after awhile there was some 'hissing' sounds. Thought the these ladies had gone into the 'slow release' mode??.

I managed to get some sleep only to be woken up by the nurse come to check  my BP / Blood sugar levels.

I told the nurse "There was some excitement last night & I could not sleep due to the  sound of passing wind by two patients. I suppose other patients may had complained??" She said "NO, it was not the sound but the SMELL,we had to spray the place with odour elliminators "!!. I said " That explains those 'hissing' noises but have lost my sense of smell some time back & I suppose I was lucky, but I unfortunately I had my hearing aid on"....... We had a laugh, ---- to put it lightly!!!. 

Next time....., there will be no next time & will be no follow-ups either as I may be gone for GOOD!!!.

Please pray for me for a "safe journey" to wherever ???

Creative Spot by Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale (New version of Pinsidu Wanney)

Please note the following e-mail from Speedy:

Mahendra Gonsalkorale	16:35 (18 minutes ago)
to me

Dear Lucky,

I am grateful to you for posting the first version on our "Millionaire" Blog!

The value to me has been the feedback, both through the blog and via email and I have revised it accordingly and redone it. I hope it is a better version now.

If you agree, you can post it on the Blog with my email note on how this came about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjVA_HF28c8

Very best wishes,

Speedy

Hooray! We have a million hits.

I have been very busy these last few days, especially with visitors, domestic travel, minor house repairs etc. In fact, I was trying to keep an eye on the magical figure, but sad to say, I missed it. I was hoping that the ever alert Speedy will come up with a brief message to viewers on my behalf. He has come up with a gem even without my requesting him to do it. I am so grateful to Speedy for coming to my rescue at such times. Here it is:

Mahendra Gonsalkorale	22:18 (10 hours ago)
to me

To all visitors of our Blog site, "Colombomedgrads 1962" which was started and maintained by Lakshman (Lucky) Abeyagunawardene.

On this day the 24th of July 2017, the number of page views reached the landmark figure of 1,000,000. This happened at about 5.10 pm UK time today.

This does not mean that the Blog was visited 1 Million times as we know that numbers are boosted by unwanted visitors known as "web crawlers", "bots" and other automated programmes seeking information from the web. But nevertheless, it is an indication of the popularity of the blog and in my view, a significant achievement.

I have attached a screenshot of the 1,000,000 hits to which I have added Lucky's photo and the very first Blog page in 2011.

I am sure the entire 1962 Medical Batch will join me in raising a hearty cheer for Lucky. Hip..hip..hip (I hear a loud hurrah!), Hip..hip.. hip..(I hear an even louder hurrah!), Hip..hip..hip (I hear a huge hurrah!)

Speedy

Creative Spot by Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale

CoMSAA Get-together September 2017

CoMSAA 2011	09:44 (11 hours ago)
to bcc: me

Dear CoMSAA members,

A reminder of the 

Colombo Medical School Alumni Association Annual Academic Sessions and Reunion

2nd and 3rd September 2017

@ Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Beach

Please do join in to celebrate the good times.

E-mail from Bala on the Upcoming Reunion

Kumar Balachandra <kumarbalachandra@hotmail.co.uk>	19:49 (1 hour ago)
to me

Dear Lucky
Sorry to hear that you are unable to attend .

I am sending them a letter I got from the travel agent today with the application form to be completed by each person boarding the ship . Please complete and email the form to the attention of Lara Bradford as per instructions given below.

Please post this in the blog . Thank you for your support.

Bala

---

From: eastleigh@hays-travel.co.uk <eastleigh@hays-travel.co.uk>
Sent: 20 July 2017 14:26
To: kumarbalachandra@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: P&O Britannia 2 September 2017 x 20 cabins

Good Afternoon Mr Balachandra

Thank you for you phone call today.

We are happy to price match for you, (subject to availability)

2 September 2017
2 Nights
P&O Britannia
Balcony Cabin Saver Fare
£249 per person
Agreed Price match £241 Per Person *subject to availability* 

Summary of Figures

Price Per Person £241

Price Per Cabin £482.00 

Overall Group price £9640.00

My colleague has kindly prepared a booking form, with required information.

WE ARE UNABLE TO MAKE A BOOKING UNTIL WE RECEIVE ALL FORMS BACK, AS WELL AS FULL PAYMENT 
Once all forms are received I will contact you, re check the price,  I can then process the group booking for you

Please can you mention to the group the following

• Prices are subject to availability and change
• Saver Fare rules apply see below 

• Terms & Conditions

  Saver Fares require a 100% deposit at the time of booking and are subject to a 100% cancellation fee. No amendments are permitted once booked; any amendment will be treated as a cancellation. Bookings are made at the relevant cabin type and a cabin number is allocated by P&O Cruises prior to departure. Dinner seating as allocated on board. Shuttle buses in ports are an additional cost. Saver Fares apply to new bookings only. These terms and conditions vary, where relevant, the applicable booking conditions which are otherwise unchanged.

The form can be completed and emailed back to our branch eastleigh@hays-travel.co.uk, for the attention of Lara Bradford

Kind Regards

Lara Bradford

Hays Travel Eastleigh

023 80089113 ✉ eastleigh@hays-travel.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/HaysTravelEastleigh

http://www.haystravel.co.uk/ Hays Travel Limited | 21 High Street | Eastleigh | Hampshire | SO50 5LF From Lucky (Blog Administrator). Please read the following correspondence as well: My regrets to Bala: Lucky Abey <adnl1102@gmail.com> 07:46 (13 hours ago) to loretta Dear Bala, This is what I was worried about. It is clashing with the Annual Get-together of CoMSAA which is on the  same weekend. I have attended all Get-togethers of the Colombo Med School Alumni Association  (CoMSAA) since the inaugural year 2011 and I have already confirmed with current President that I shall not miss this year's as well. By a sheer coincidence, I received this e-mail from the current President today. It had been addressed to just five of us. Lucky Lucky Abey <adnl1102@gmail.com> 11:42 (9 hours ago) to Aruni, Sarath Dear Sarath Gamini, Thank you for inviting me to contribute to this year's CoMSAA souvenir. I will let you know by Monday whether I can think of a suitable topic. It has to suit the setting around the time I was a medical student from 1962 to 1967. I will be in Belihuloya this weekend and can think over it! I have this habit of re-visiting the places that I have been to with Mangala soon after our wedding in 1970. We have already been to Elle many a time. Although we have passed through Belihuloya, we have never spent a night there. The only difference is that on the last occasion, we were at the famous Rest House (where the former Health Minister WPG Ariyadasa was in the next room!). This time we'll be at Glenrock Boutique Hotel which is closer to Tenne where there is an Aranya. Mangala and her sister have arranged an alms giving to the monks in that Aranya. I also received the Flyer that Aruni hadsent and wish to confirm my presence at the venue from the previous afternoon as we usually do. I shall get in touch with Aruni for our tickets and the hotel booking. Jetwing Blue in Negombo was where we celebrated our 50th Anniversary Batch Reunion since graduation a couple of months ago. Only sad thing is that as I informed you before, we will have to miss the Annual Dinner of the Sri Lanka College of Community Physicians that Saturday. Regards. Lucky

More details of upcoming Reunion

GOLDEN  JUBILEE CELEBRATION CRUISE  - SEPTEMBER 2017

FRESHMAN CLASS 1962 – COLOMBO MEDICAL FACULTY,

UNIVERSITY OF CEYLON

Sail Away on a short cruise from Southampton to Belgium – Southampton

In a Five Star Luxury Ship for two nights/ three days  on a weekend extravaganza from September 2 to  4 in a new cruise ship / Britannia and  all of us together on a greatest journey on earth in the ocean as a once in a life time novelty.

Please note there is no visa required whether you are British or Sri Lankan citizen or visitor to UK. You may bring your members of the family and friends to join this memorable cruise.

All payments will have to be made to the shipping agent with the completion of formalities in the application that will be provided, such information as full name, date of birth, and nationality of each member, etc .

Each couple will be allocated (two persons) a balcony state room /cabin in the cruise ship and the cabin numbers and the deck number and all of us in one deck.  The meals in the dining room for the group in an allocated area as well.

The negotiated price, after having taken into account for group reservations and other discounts amounts to GBP £ 250 per person.

(Please note the normal price of this cruise is GBP £450 per person for all other guests)

SO PLEASE HURRY UP AND MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS   ASAP, PREFERABLY BY OR BEFORE  2  AUGUST, ie  ONE MONTH BEFORE THE DATE OF SAILING TO SNATCH UPTHIS BARGAIN. THE PRICE INCLUDES ALL MEALS , REFRESHMENTS, ENTERTAINMENT,  THEATRE  SHOWS, AND  EVENING DANCE UNTIL MIDNIGHT. Colleagues abroad have shown interest.

PROGRAMME AS FOLLOWS:

SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER   - Embark ship by or before 3 pm at the Southampton                                                             Cruise Docks.  Afternoon tea at 4 pm, followed by dinner at 8 pm                                               followed by theatre entertainment 9 pm, and dancing follows                                      until midnight.

SUNDAY 3 SEPTEMBER -  After breakfast excursion to the city of Belgium and return to the                                      ship for lunch for 1 pm tea at 4 pm , Captains cocktail followed by                               dinner at 8 pm,  Theatre  shows 9 pm and musical entertainment                                      and dance until midnight.

MONDAY 4 SEPTEMBER -  Breakfast 7 to 10 am  and disembark the ship

CONTACT DETAILS   Dr  K Balachandra -         email :   kumarbalachandra@hotmail.co.uk

                           Tel/ fax :   02380 252222  

                           Address:       38 Guildford drive , Hampshire, SO53 3PT,  UK