Laidlaw

Laidlaw

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Oldgeorgians.com- Are you registered?

Are you registered at oldgeorgians.com? It is free and takes a few moments. What is oldgeorgians.com? It was created for the oldgeorgions back in the early 90's by Babu & Viji Rajasabai. It was designed as a database of Old Georgians around the world. Why should you register? Just suppose that one of your classmates is trying contact you, they can get your contact details if they are also registered. You can get info on reunions, videos and photos from activities around the world. Lets suppose you were visiting Toronto, you can search by city or country or by batch... Planning a reunion in your town, you can collect information of the people registered in your city... Only those registered can use the search feature for contact info. So check this out please. http://www.oldgeorgians.com/default.aspx Recently someone in New Jersey wanted to contact an OG in Coimbatore. They reached me by Facebook. I was able to connect them with the person in Coimbatore because of this site. If you are registered, are you contact details correct? Have you changed you mobile number or email? Please log in and make your updates. Forgot your login info? Use the forgot password feature or use the Contact us option on the top right. Have a blessed day. Thomas Abraham 1977

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

OGA Offsite Reunion - from 3rd to 4th Dec 2016

Hi Georgians, Wecome to Coorg OGA Offsite Reunion is to happen from 3rd to 4th Dec 2016 at Ambatti Green Resort, Coorg. Bring the spouse and kids along and let them see why the stories never stop and why the camaraderie has lasted so many years. Come back and feel your youth flow through your every muscle and sinew. Come back and relive the old memories while you make new ones. An evergreen sylvan campus, which evoke nostalgic feelings - the flora and fauna - Do come and share the re-invigorating joy of Reunion Details of the programme will reach you while you spread word around about the meet. Rg. NRK Raja chairman OGA offsite Reunion Welcome to Cheers Coorg. Please find attachment "OGA Offsite Reunion Registration Form". To those comfortable to register offline please copy, fill and post with payment. If payment made on line, give detail by post / mail with UTR no. your name, the amount remitted along with Reg form to ARO Ms. Hema. For online Registration please open "www.oldgeorgians.com", fill Registration form and submit. Send detail by post / mail with UTR no. your name and amount remitted, to ARO Ms.Hema. Thank you, Now your Registration process is over, so say "CHEERS COORG." If you require to come a day early to stay at Ambatti please contact me by cell 9443388246 Rg. NRK Raja (69) (Chairman OGA Offsite reunion)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Anybody knows the whereabouts of Thimaya Muthapa class of 67?

Thimmy (Lewis) passed away in the year 1995 and his wife a little later (date not known.)
Both his sons are being looked after by his younger brother K.M Nanda.
Bhavani (Blackburn) has married an army officer and is now currently in Hyderabad.
Nanda (Lewis )is still serving the army as a colonel and in fact, I am attending his son's wedding on the 16th of this month.
His dad, colonel Muthappa is no more.Their Mom is in Coorg.
Regards,
Nutties.-nanthigowdernatarajan@yahoo.co.in

Who asked- Sreekumar Kumaran- whom we just found in Canada

Sholai Kuyil

Since Kumari is a topic of eternal interest,I must tell you about my association with her since school. She was a year junior to me in WCC and her cousin Anita Kotraj was a year senior. She was declared and crowned the undisputed freshie queen at the freshie Inaugural party. That was way back in 1981. We met again at her aunt's place in the early 90's when Jojo and i were asked by his old company to entice a potential M.D.,a Brit to take up office in India.We tried to give him a taste of India which included tropical forest, palaces,etc and tribes.Her aunt Beryl Piljen gave us a session on the Todas. Kumari was expecting their first then and in full term and she asked me to go and see the movie being released in Coimby when I got back there the the next day. The first show was packed. I bought a ticket 'in black'(if you haven't forgotten what that means!)and had Jojo knudged me 15 minutes after commencement to get out of there. Sorry to disappoint you Thomas, but, it was a disaster, but hey how many of us have starred in a full length movie? Mostly to maintain marital harmony Jojo sat thru the rest of it! Jojo has understood the hard way that everything that is shot is not necessarily a hit or is sometimes never aired, because he has done some commercials and documentaries for fun (when he was
spotted by a talent scout at a book shop) including one with Akshay Kumar (a hindi actor).
Anyway the Sholai Kuyil did not do justice to Kumari's beauty if that is what you want to know. Most of the movie had her walking in the shola in a daze with her hair open. It was shot in the Nilgiris (Kotagiri?)
Nimmi John 1978

Kumari told me that the movie was not good but heck, when did that ever stop me watching a bad movie. Still want to see it though.

There are phases in one's life that you can remember like it was yesterday. I still remember all what happened. I still have all that poetry I wrote and kept writing until mid-80's. I have that to show for it. I still have a few snaps of Kumari that I managed to get. I posted one under the album "memories" taken in 1988. I met her aunt several times at the Sheddon Rd house. Missed her in July as she was
at the farm.
Thomas Abraham 1977

Shall try and get you a copy of Solaikuyil. I remember seeing the movie too, much for the same reason that I saw Panneer Pushpangal. Panner Pushpangal was a mega flop and sort of got on your "gizz", with seeing to sort of image it projected of the School. I really dont know who was responsible for allowing this to happen, whether it was the management or Mr.Walsh himself, who appeared in a small role too - but the storyline was not appropriate for our school (a sick stuff of sissy love and above all wearing our school uniforms of navy blue jerkins and blue ties and the girls with their green cardigans). I would much prefer if something like Tom Brown's School Days was taken as the theme for a movie on our school.

Solaikuyil, had some wonderful songs, which were fashionable at that time and Raagini (stage name for Kumari) became a sought after heroine of the day. The cast never really allowed her to explore her histrionic or dramatic skills. But immediately after the movie, she was married to Karthik, and never appeared in any movie thereafter. She also acted in a TV Serial which was a hit because of her presence, though she only lent her glamour.

Am searching for a copy of Solaikuyil and shall send it to you.
Thamil 1976

Thanks Thamil for any assistance. I never did see Paneer Pushpangal.
Raagini- now I know the screen name.

Old Girl friend's- not in touch w/anyone that I know of. Need to think now. Let me put on my thinking cap.
The only girlfriend I have to be concerned at all will be Kerry my wife and she is cool about that. She has seen all the snaps and the poetry, etc. I share these things with my kids too. It is history now.
Thomas Abraham 1977

Thomas my friend you seem to be tripping on Kumari Piljain once again - every once in a while that teenage urge to catch up with your past seems to snare you! As Thamil put it you better beware my friend - your wife Kerry wont be amused I am sure!! But to be fair to Kumari I have to say any guy would trip on that Toda beauty - she must have been an extraordinarily good looking lass back in school so Thomas I
do not blame you for your state of mind!!

Sailendra Bhaskar 1973

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Macs by Romesh Mani

It drizzled a little here in Kottayam yesterday (no ice and snow), and out of the blue I got to thinking of the "Macs" we had in school.

No, not the McKenzies, McCarthies, McAteers, McDonalds or McFarlaines - not the computers either - what I'm talking about are those wondrous, sleeveless, waterproof accessories that were regulation issue in our day - khaki coloured canvas contraptions that were raincoats officially, but had many, many other uses too. The name 'mac' is an abbreviation of the name of the great Scotsman who invented waterproof fabric - McIntosh! Well they did serve to keep us from getting wet when it rained for sure - most of the water stayed out, but the fabric eventually would get soaked through and become damp and cold on the inside .... brrrrr!. I also remember that quite often we took off our leather shoes to prevent them from getting wet and spoilt and walked barefoot in the rain with these macs on. The lower hem of the macs with a thin coating of mud on the edge would rub against the achilles tendon (just above the heels) and usually rubbed them raw if you didn't reach your destination before that!
Macs had a whole lot of other uses too, they were great to keep the wind off you on a cold 'monsoon' day (or night) - just get the hood on and keep your back to the wind! Worked great when you had to wait somewhere in lousy weather! I remember walking back to Oakshott after prep in the dining hall late in the evening on cold nights, well wrapped in a good old mac to keep warm.
Macs also formed great ground sheets when you wanted to sit or loll around (or do anything else you wanted to do on the ground) without getting your uniform dirty. But it did get the macs rather dirty, and if your house matron saw it that way, you were promptly given some 'chunnamb soap' and a scrubbing brush and told to get it cleaned up - and that could be some job!
Macs made great tents when you wanted to keep out of the sun or out of sight of someone - especially when you had some yummy tuck with you which you wanted to eat undisturbed. Macs were also used for transporting some tidbit from the dining hall or tuck shop without anyone knowing. For this you either wore the mac - on a hot sunny afternoon arousing the curiosity and suspicion of your fellows - or folded the goodies into the mac and threw it over your shoulder as if it were just another day!
Macs made great weapons of war too. A tightly folded mac could be used for clubbing someone - without fear of any permanent injury being caused. If you did want to cause some injury, you rolled in a piece of euky firewood or a couple of stones into the folds to make it more lethal. Though I've heard of this, in all my school years I've never seen this being put to use.
Macs made great haversacks or collecting bags. It was usually just before the house parties that we went collecting euky bark for the traditional bonfires and brought them back in our macs. Guys returning from a spud or a pear raid also usually brought back their booty in their macs.
Macs made great camouflage gear too, but not always. I remember when I was in Oldham, someone saw something moving suspiciously in the bushes down the banks and told "Bunna" (David Todd). He went over to investigate and discovered that it was only Kenny Baker and Gillian Fewkes looking for a little privacy! But at other times if you were up to no good and didn't want to be identified, your mac was your best friend - with the hood on!
Macs also made great cloaks or capes. The inspiration for this came usually while returning to Oakshott or Lewis after a school movie in the dining hall - with some swashbuckling hero like Zorro or Morgan the Pirate. For this, the hood had to be tucked inside, the top button engaged, and the rest of the mac flung over the shoulders. You usually went charging down the slope to Lewis with your cape flying behind you, with suitable shouts and screams as vocal accompaniment. No, the macs (capes) didn't protect you if you fell, while on one of these charges. You could still get pretty badly bruised.
Then there were the creative types - I think I might have been one - who liked to make a toy we called 'zippo'. For this you got a good, large 'mac' button, threaded a twine through two of the holes, tied the ends of the twine, put your index fingers through the looped twine, wound it up and made it spin by rhythmically pulling on the twisted twine. One golden rule had to be observed here - 'make sure it was someone else's mac you cut the button from; and preferably someone not capable of clobbering you when he found out!
The art of folding a mac was a subject in itself! there were the sloppy guys who just rolled it up and threw it over the left shoulder. Then there were the guys who folded it into quarters - the easiest way to fold it - ended up about 10 inches wide. (Didn't have centimetres in those days!) then there were the buffs who would do a six-way folding and get it into a neat and smart six inch width. These guys really prided their abilities and were rather touchy about others checking the number on these macs to see if it was theirs. Some guys got over this problem by folding their macs inside-out so that the number tag was on the outside and could be seen without having to open up a neatly folded piece.
I've been around quite a bit since I've left school, but I've never seen anything so ineffective for it's intended use, but with so many other uses - or was it just that we were versatile and inventive?
Have I covered it all, or do you have something to add to this?
Regards ----- Romesh Mani Jan 2005

Hi Romesh,
Great coverage on the Mac. I think it was also used when we had to run the gonklet in the dorms. from junior dorm to senior, where many an enemy took revenge by as you rightly put it had shoes(clodhoppers) in them and did give the runner a good wack.
Paulc (74)


Hi Romesh...
A great coverage indeed.... however I do recall one other great use for the humble Mac... They were the best tool for collecting bark and twigs for the House end of year Party and Bon fires... A number will remember the keen competition between Oakshott and Lewis....which house could build a larger bon fire... Boy did those poor Mac's take a hammering....buttoned down with the hood in place to make a good collection sack....
Now I am wondering what other things Romesh was considering when he said...(or anything else you wanted to be doing on the ground...) ..I have no idea...but, perhaps that will stir some responses from those who had better uses for the Mac's on the ground...
I do recall folding and keeping my Mac intact... so when it came to wash day... it was clean for the most part... except for that very narrow area that was exposed... folding had its merits....
Thanks for that memory
Regards
Howard

Ketti Slang Words by Ajit & Romesh Mani

Ajit & Romesh mani started this list...

1. Bubbed - Pregnant (including developed foetuses in birds eggs)
2. Bugout - Garden Lizard (One of my classmates, Everette Johnson was called Bugout because he had bulging eyes!)
3. Cadging - Begging for food, "Give us some, man"
4. Coaster - Term used (by Anglo Indians with English names) to describe Eurasians (with Portuguese names like D'Cruz, D'Souza etc. from West Coast of India) Never did hear this one during my time - '55-'64 (RM)
5. Dame - Girl, Girl-friend (who is your dame?)
6. Defaulter - When points were minused for bad behaviour or low marks. Defaulters got punishments like intensive labour, caning. The dreaded "Defaulters Book" was used by teachers and staff to ensure good behaviour
7. Drainpipes - Trousers circa 1960, which measured 11" at the ankle
8. Fag - Prefects' orderlies, who carried their macs, polished their shoes. Also another name for cigarettes
9. Flicks - Breeks pucca English for early films which used to "flicker"
10. Gooseberry - a go-between used to send overtures to a girlfriend or boyfriend, love-letters
11. Gunjing - Originally a term from playing Tops where you damaged another's top with the sharp spike on your top - sometimes even breaking a top, but also used for sexual intercourse
12. Kottu - from Tamil: To give someone a hit on the head with your knuckles
13. Mooching - Kissing, "amorous dalliance"
14. Paappaan Food - the food served in the "Vegetarian Mess" in school circa 60's. Indian Breakfast, Curries etc.
15. Sixer, thick - 'Thick' for the one inch slice of bread we got, Sixer (theoretically 6" but more realistically 3"), the crust which prefects got I think this was supposed to be "six fingers"!(RM)
16. Spuds, Spud-mash - Potatoes, Potato Mash
17. Switching ("He got switched") - Caning
18. Wog - Derogatory term for Indians, from Gollywog. Westernised Oriental Gentleman.(RM)
19. Apple-pie bed - To fold the cover sheet under the blanket so your feet get stuck midway
20. Blanket tossing - Punishment, when someone got tossed on a blanket (usually in Inter-dorm), high enough to hit the ceiling
21. Deadly bowling by Sobers - Expression for "Excellent", "Outstanding" (from name of W.Indies Cricketer)
22. Don't show your breed, man - Admonishment from one Anglo Indian to another when reverting to 'native' behaviour or speech... very often the word 'breed' pronounced "breedh"
23. Four and a half - Private parts - 4½ spans from top of your head down - Dorcas, Oldham Ayah used to say, "Wash your four and 'ap") Wash your "fores" & "afts".(RM)
24. Got Geech in your lugs? - Grease in your ears - If someone didn't hear what you said
25. Goththay Bandhi - Almost certainly originated as a derogatory term for Badagas, from Kannada "Gotthu"=know and "Bandhen"=came, but later applied to anyone considered to be sloppy... He's a bloody "goth".
"Big gothay" - big log of shit!(RM)
26. Gunner weather - Windy weather in Aug-September when Euky trees got whipped around
27. Hot Stuff - Fried S.Indian snacks like bondas, vadas, bajis
28. Luckote Place - A nest where you hid Luckotes for ripening. Luckotes were also called "wild olives" Loquat(RM)
29. On the lut - To get an erection
30. Pile on - For a gang to bash up an unsuspecting victim, sometimes throwing a mac over his head
31. Poppy-day - "Monthly curse" for girls
32. Run the gauntlet - Punishment, when defaulters had to run between the beds in a dorm while they got beaten with pillows
33. Stone-age - Physical body pains experienced by boys who were maturing into men
34. Take a plug - Take a bite (of a pear, for example)
35. Spajjy (spaggy?) - common sparrow
36. Jivic - Java Sparrow (the grey and black Javanese Finch)
37. Bullick - bul-bul
38. Jacks - jackals
39. Cumbly Boochies - hairy caterpillars
40. Wood Boochies - black beetles found in decaying tree stumps - used for nipping the ear lobes.
41. Bundoos - any beetle like insect (from the Tamil/Malayalam word "wandu".)
42. Bandy, Bandy Cart - any hand pulled/pushed trolley (From T/M "vandi")
43. Belly busters - fruit from a wild creeper resembling passion fruit, with thinner shell that made a pleasant 'popping' noise when you threw it at someone - not necessarily pleasant for the one who got hit!
44. Four Eyes - guy/gal wearing specs.
45. Down the Banks - to go into the wooded areas. (Never heard anybody say "going up the banks"!)
46. Cloddoppers - (from 'cloud hoppers'?) - big, loose fitting, noise making shoes.
47. Pothole - (from pot hole?) any pit, hole on the sole of shoe, hole in socks, underwear etc.
48. Jocks - (from jock straps?) gents/boys underwear - briefs.
49. Ball splitters - gents/boys underwear - boxer shorts type.
50. Hitler's Ball Splitters - same as above - very tight though. (Torture apparatus devised by Hitler?)
51. Knicks - girls' undies (knickers)
52. Cloggers - hill guava with high pectin content could cause constipation/clogging if eaten in excess.
53. Breaking the ice - first guy to jump into freezing water of cubs/old boys dam.
54. Going Bareballs - swimming with no swim trunks/undies on.(Guys only - don't know the feminine equivalent for this.)
55. Booksed - to book something - to get the next turn. ("I booksed the next go!")
56. Cogsed (same as above) - what the origin of this is, is anyone's guess.
57. Yarn up - modern equivalent could be "bullshitting" - showing off or acting up.
58. Feeling Frisky eh? - ticking off someone who's acting spry/fresh.
59. Yapping eh? talking too much? Usually a warning before a senior put his fist into your mouth!
60. Squijjy (Squiggy) - Squirrel.
61. Kamris - Kamrikuts - Small, marble-sized sweet made from jaggery and coconut? supposedly rolled in the arm-pits.
62. Pal Kottais - dumpling-like pudding served up in SGH in the days of yore. Possibly made with rubber latex, plaster of paris and sugar to taste.
63. Diving - nothing to do with swimming - it's taking a generous/unduly large helping when someone offers to share their jam or pickle or condensed milk or any other tuck.
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Vandana Indramohan
64. Don't Jaal ok!!! - meaning Don't Lie ok!!..haha
July 17, 2009
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Suresh Rajarethinam
65. Cloggers- a fruit found down the banks
66. Toe jam - a smelly pair of socks
67. Ponging - Whose socks is ponging with toe jam
August 1, 2009
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Elizabeth Khan
68. Jose cut - a particular kind of up handed swipe starting from the base of the neck and going all the way up. Invented and perfected by Mr. Jose. ( i forget what he taught )
69. Sighting - Checking out a girl / gal who intent to date.
70. Skivving - licking a bottle or jar or bowl clean. eg.: i skivved the jam bottle.
August 23, 2009
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Elizabeth Khan
71. Cadging - a term used for someone who is maska maroing someone with lots of tuck or a new spiffy video game.
August 23, 2009
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Gopalakrishnan Sankaran
72. Keep K.V - a term used to tell someone to act as a look out .K.v stood for keep vigilance
73. Jacked - to be caught by a staff when you are doing something you shouldnt do
74. Jam bottle broke
75.Soaking - saying something stupid but funny
76.Kadugu- beingmiserly , Mr Raghavan's nickname cuz he always used to give quarter and three quarter marks
September 21, 2009
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Beena Nair
Don't gup! = Don't lie
November 30, 2009

Kamrakkuts

Elizabeth Khan
I hope i got the spelling right..... U guys know what i'm talking of. they're the jaggery and groundnut sweets rolled into balls. And rumour had it that they were rolled into perfect balls by being put in the confectonier's armpits and the guy would grind his armpits therefore rolling perfect balls. Gross, i know but hey, i'm just trying to keep the legend alive !
July 15, 2009
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Never heard part of the legend- the armpit bit. Loved that stuff from Bhojas, Top Shop- Yellanhalli or Palada. Guess it tasted so good since we were always hungry. Tasted good when I ate it in 2004 and in 2005 when someone- maybe Tom Varkey brought some to the Atlanta Reunion.
July 15, 2009
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Suresh Rajarethinam
Kamarakuts were also called kamrees, ( did you buy any kamrees ?)also available in palada & top shop were honey sweets which was orange in colour with a dry surface...
August 1, 2009
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Ravoof Abdul
Yeah I remember then clearly cos they were my favourites! Now we do get them but not like the old type. Dont know if they still make the same one somewhere?
Yes Suresh I still run after the honey sweets when I go home! yummy!
Then there was the Pulippu mitai, shaped like an orange pod.
Then the bubble gum in a box containing 4 balls.
Then the Phantom ciggis! Cant get them now.
November 25, 2009
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Anish Das
How much did we get for 5 bucks ? 500 ?!!!
December 18, 2009