After almost half a year of hibernation “EL Toro” (my trusty steed, my bullet), it was time for some activity. It was time to get to the workshop and get back in shape.
On valentines day, I renewed my love with Toro, and I looked like an overexcited kid with Rs. 10000/- only for chocolates (I know it sounds like an overkill). It was time to reach the garage, and… the battery was drained (for obvious reasons), and the bike as such, was in pretty bad shape… A friend who was supposed to help me get the bike to the mecs place had slept off (grrrrrrr), so was searching for an alternate means to transporting my bike. Finally found a TATA ACE driver, who agreed to transport my bike.
With the bike loaded, we were on my way to a place my wife calls, “Sauten’s house” (Keep’s house), that would be my mech’s garage. On our way, we were flagged down by the traffic police, who just wanted to ensure that he had a good breakfast with his gang at my cost. After these small hurdles, we were back on track.
Well now, just waiting to get the bull back and god willing will be back to my old ways on me bull…
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010
The power of Three words!
Let me elaborate on the 3 words… I am sure you will figure it out before you finish reading the complete Post!!!
Close to 8 and a half months back, at around 6:00 AM got a call on my cell that kind of changed the way I have lived my life for the past 30 years. It forced me to think and re think on my view about life. It shook me up, from the toe up to hair on my head. It made me rip my car from office to home in close to 18 minutes. When I reached home and faced my family, I felt GREAT. The faces at home were lit like flood lights, mom had tears of joy tinkling down her cheeks. Sam was delighted to the extent that she had not changed into her day clothes… And THEN the NEWS was repeated. YES that was the Day I found out that I was on my way to Fatherhood.
Today after seeing the great creation of god in my wife’s womb, I really don’t know how to react. It seems like a new chapter in the book called life. But now, there is a new aspect of how I am looking at things, even Arva is surprised on my behavior. I AM ON CLOUD NINE, AND I JUST DON’T WANT TO COME DOWN… I want to party, like no tomorrow and also ensure that tomorrow comes fast. Just so that I can hold my child in my arms!
Till Later
Take care and God Bless!!!
Close to 8 and a half months back, at around 6:00 AM got a call on my cell that kind of changed the way I have lived my life for the past 30 years. It forced me to think and re think on my view about life. It shook me up, from the toe up to hair on my head. It made me rip my car from office to home in close to 18 minutes. When I reached home and faced my family, I felt GREAT. The faces at home were lit like flood lights, mom had tears of joy tinkling down her cheeks. Sam was delighted to the extent that she had not changed into her day clothes… And THEN the NEWS was repeated. YES that was the Day I found out that I was on my way to Fatherhood.
Today after seeing the great creation of god in my wife’s womb, I really don’t know how to react. It seems like a new chapter in the book called life. But now, there is a new aspect of how I am looking at things, even Arva is surprised on my behavior. I AM ON CLOUD NINE, AND I JUST DON’T WANT TO COME DOWN… I want to party, like no tomorrow and also ensure that tomorrow comes fast. Just so that I can hold my child in my arms!
Till Later
Take care and God Bless!!!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Corruption Who is to be Blamed???
There I am ridding to max of my comfort level, feeling the hot Chennai wind on my face. Squinting through my shades and dark visor of my helmet, Wherever I May Roam blaring in my ears on Rajaji Salai (Beach Road). As I am crossing the Labor Statue there is the traffic constable playing Kabaddi on the road with on coming bikes. It was a funny sight, there he was in the middle of the road both arms stretched out with a stick in one hand… running left to right and right to left… had to pull up to the side…. With one catch that was successful he came aside to me where I had switched off the bike and pulled the keys and put it in my pocket. He looked at me as I removed my helmet and the scarf that I was wearing under that, he had a triumphant look on his face. He asked me if I knew why I was pulled over the answer to that was a blank look on my face. His next statement was “ you guys think this is your daddy’s road and ride like you need to catch the next flight out of town”. To which my reaction did not change, his next question was if I knew how fast I was going… to which I replied “around 80”. He then told me that it was a 40 KMPH zone. I asked him what next. He said that he is cutting me a challan and I will have to pay Rs.500/-. As he said this he also added that if he wanted he could cut a challan and I would have to pay close to a double. And then he had the audacity to tell me that he was doing me a favor by only asking for that much. To my good luck had only a 50 in my wallet, took it out told him that was all I have. He took a look at me and said “this time its fine, and the next time he catches me he will not let me of so easy”.
Now with the policeman in my rear view mirror I was just thinking, I blame all the cops for being corrupt, but who really is to be blamed. What I did was not correct, I should have asked him for the receipt and paid the fine. Not offer him a 50 to let me just go! my mind now taunts at me by telling me that I am the reason for that corrupt cop. Which also means that all of us who have at any point opted to come out of such sticky situations like this is responsible for corruption.
Now with the policeman in my rear view mirror I was just thinking, I blame all the cops for being corrupt, but who really is to be blamed. What I did was not correct, I should have asked him for the receipt and paid the fine. Not offer him a 50 to let me just go! my mind now taunts at me by telling me that I am the reason for that corrupt cop. Which also means that all of us who have at any point opted to come out of such sticky situations like this is responsible for corruption.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Can we really speak our mind?????
Do I say it? I hope he / she takes it the right way… I hope I am not offending his / her beliefs… Am I overstepping some thing??
These are thoughts that come to the mind very often, that too when we are having an discussion with our friends, colleagues, subordinates and bosses or at time with some one who is from the top management of the firm that you are working at.
Haven’t you ever come across a moment when this thought has hit you at least once every couple of hours…
These are thoughts that come to the mind very often, that too when we are having an discussion with our friends, colleagues, subordinates and bosses or at time with some one who is from the top management of the firm that you are working at.
Haven’t you ever come across a moment when this thought has hit you at least once every couple of hours…
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Customer Plight Dealers Delight
By around 11:00 the service engineer calls up to inform me that the car is ready and wanted to know if I want it to be delivered to my office or I would go in person to collect it ( not that I am important or something, just an option that all customer can avail by choice). I chose to get the car delivered.
1:00 PM get a call on my cell from the driver, conversation below:
Driver: Sir, car is parked on front of the office, come and collect the keys (note the ordering tone)
Me: will be there in a moment
I go out to the front parking area of my office
Driver: Here are the keys and this is the bill, shall I leave
Me: let me just park the car in my usual spot.
Driver: (a little hesitant) ok.
Me: I had asked if breaks to be checked has it been done
Driver: not sure
Me: Hey the cover to the start button that was installed on the gear shaft is broken!
Driver: NO! sir it was never there
Me: Dude this is my car, I would know if some thing that I use every time I start the car is broken.
Driver: Is it, well sir if you would have told me earlier I would have kept a check on that.
Me: (Fuming) when I give you a car to be delivered to your service station I trust you guys with it. I am pretty sure that I have never asked any of the drivers who have come earlier to be careful of anything.
Driver: it will never happen again, I ensure you about that.
Me: do you realize that the part that you have broken can not be replaced, I will have to change the whole kit, and that is going to cost me money
Driver: (Starts with Broken record technique) it will never happen again
Some silence as we move to my parking spot behind the office building, and then I do some thing I have never done… open all the windows to check if they are running smooth. They all come down nice and smooth, but when it is time to roll them up the rear right window refuses to move.
After parking the car and me giving menacing stares to the driver he, decided to take matters into his own hands (literally) he opens the door and bangs on it from the inside.
Me: WHY DID YOU DO THAT
Driver: during water wash some water would have gone in, that is what could be causing the problem
Me: No words spoken (just a cold stare)
Driver: I think you should go to the place where you got the power windows installed.
Me: The car is VDI which means it is factory fitted
Driver: I will get back to the service station and have a technician come and look into it. (and he closes the door)
As the door closed I see the scratch which is pretty big. And loose my cool (not that I was very happy the way things were going). I told him that the scratch was not there when he took the car.
Driver: No sir, check the job card I have marked it
Me: here is job card, I don’t see any thing marked. (I ran my hand through the scratch and found some residue on it). You are lying. It is fresh
Driver: NO sir, it was not there
Me: I don’t care what you have to say, Lets go to the service station.
Reached the service station and called to meet the engineer who was assigned to my car. Narrated all that had happened, and he came out to check the car. After checking on the complaints that I had, he confirmed that the scratch was fresh. He agreed to help me get rid of the damage done to paint job by his driver. Also told him about the cover of starter button being broken, to which he said they couldn’t help.
A few months back there were a few paint spots on the rear of the car. When the car was sent for service, I did ask the Service Engineer if they could remove those paint spots. After a few hours he called in informed that, they were not able to remove them. But I could try by getting 3M cleaning done. Which I did get but the spots were still there. The service engineer said that the only way to get rid to the spots was to get the car painted as the paint spots were scattered. So I opted only for 3M Polishing (exterior and interior) after this incident, the car has been to service at least 3 times. Yesterday due to all the DAMAGING, LYING and INCOMPETENCE I went to service station and enquired about the same. The service engineer immediately called a person and instructed him to try to remove the spots; as soon as he tried, the spots went off completely. This only goes to prove that earlier the service engineers did not even try to check if it was possible. As I see it, it is their way of saying that I have to get the car painted at with them. The 3M surface refinement is costing me Rs. 3500/-, which I would have saved if the engineer would have done the required (that is call the right guy and ask him to check) I would not have had to pay for the carelessness of the engineers.
1:00 PM get a call on my cell from the driver, conversation below:
Driver: Sir, car is parked on front of the office, come and collect the keys (note the ordering tone)
Me: will be there in a moment
I go out to the front parking area of my office
Driver: Here are the keys and this is the bill, shall I leave
Me: let me just park the car in my usual spot.
Driver: (a little hesitant) ok.
Me: I had asked if breaks to be checked has it been done
Driver: not sure
Me: Hey the cover to the start button that was installed on the gear shaft is broken!
Driver: NO! sir it was never there
Me: Dude this is my car, I would know if some thing that I use every time I start the car is broken.
Driver: Is it, well sir if you would have told me earlier I would have kept a check on that.
Me: (Fuming) when I give you a car to be delivered to your service station I trust you guys with it. I am pretty sure that I have never asked any of the drivers who have come earlier to be careful of anything.
Driver: it will never happen again, I ensure you about that.
Me: do you realize that the part that you have broken can not be replaced, I will have to change the whole kit, and that is going to cost me money
Driver: (Starts with Broken record technique) it will never happen again
Some silence as we move to my parking spot behind the office building, and then I do some thing I have never done… open all the windows to check if they are running smooth. They all come down nice and smooth, but when it is time to roll them up the rear right window refuses to move.
After parking the car and me giving menacing stares to the driver he, decided to take matters into his own hands (literally) he opens the door and bangs on it from the inside.
Me: WHY DID YOU DO THAT
Driver: during water wash some water would have gone in, that is what could be causing the problem
Me: No words spoken (just a cold stare)
Driver: I think you should go to the place where you got the power windows installed.
Me: The car is VDI which means it is factory fitted
Driver: I will get back to the service station and have a technician come and look into it. (and he closes the door)
As the door closed I see the scratch which is pretty big. And loose my cool (not that I was very happy the way things were going). I told him that the scratch was not there when he took the car.
Driver: No sir, check the job card I have marked it
Me: here is job card, I don’t see any thing marked. (I ran my hand through the scratch and found some residue on it). You are lying. It is fresh
Driver: NO sir, it was not there
Me: I don’t care what you have to say, Lets go to the service station.
Reached the service station and called to meet the engineer who was assigned to my car. Narrated all that had happened, and he came out to check the car. After checking on the complaints that I had, he confirmed that the scratch was fresh. He agreed to help me get rid of the damage done to paint job by his driver. Also told him about the cover of starter button being broken, to which he said they couldn’t help.
A few months back there were a few paint spots on the rear of the car. When the car was sent for service, I did ask the Service Engineer if they could remove those paint spots. After a few hours he called in informed that, they were not able to remove them. But I could try by getting 3M cleaning done. Which I did get but the spots were still there. The service engineer said that the only way to get rid to the spots was to get the car painted as the paint spots were scattered. So I opted only for 3M Polishing (exterior and interior) after this incident, the car has been to service at least 3 times. Yesterday due to all the DAMAGING, LYING and INCOMPETENCE I went to service station and enquired about the same. The service engineer immediately called a person and instructed him to try to remove the spots; as soon as he tried, the spots went off completely. This only goes to prove that earlier the service engineers did not even try to check if it was possible. As I see it, it is their way of saying that I have to get the car painted at with them. The 3M surface refinement is costing me Rs. 3500/-, which I would have saved if the engineer would have done the required (that is call the right guy and ask him to check) I would not have had to pay for the carelessness of the engineers.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Seen That! But still amazes me
Keep an eye at this place since I am in the thinking phase of which amazement I am planning to share with all. I am sure that you must have also been there some time witnessed it first hand.
Well its all going to come back at you...
Cabin Bag Rush: Since the 18th century Gold Rush, little of such widespread interest and intrigue has happened to keep people’s competitive spirit on the edge. It is a time-centric sport, jump up too early and you will be hushed back to your confinement by the taunting attendants who may belt you up… hey don’t go there… no I ain’t talking leather, mister, too late and you will be caught in the Great traffic jam… So it’s actually much like a 100m dash.
The idea is to anticipate the seatbelt sign going off and before the first decibel is emitted from that ‘ping’ alarm, you should already have opened the overhead lockers, grabbed your bag and made it to the door. And get extra points if you can displace other stuff and a bonus if the same lands on someone’s head. Such excitement, such thrill, such effort and such a sense of accomplishment...and all for waiting together to leave the departure lounge and stand by the baggage conveyer waiting for your bag to appear.
The ever-popular rebel: I mean we all know how little there is to do for air service staff. I know you can’t say air hostess anymore but I am clueless as to what is the current correct reference. Some people who don’t wear a seat belt or keep their seats reclined, tables unfastened, screens lowered, etc. are just creating a sense of purpose for these otherwise (sometimes lost) youngsters. They have the daunting task of ensuring that people who couldn’t comprehend the instructions read in at least two languages with a smile on their faces. I think removing a seat belt when the seat-belt sign gives some kind of cheap thrill. The kind one gets from flouting the law, when no one’s looking.
In fact, the only act of trust that we get to witness is that we hand over our lives into the hands of a couple of people who we don’t know or haven’t even seen. These were same guys who I am not sure were either smashed a few hours back by some good liquor. Or just had a very upsetting argument with some one on the way to the airport
Mobile phone pressure: Asking a person to switch off his / her mobile phone is the new social equivalent of public embarrassment; you would rather switch off the person’s pacemaker or life support systems. Because when you make them switch of their mobiles, it would appear that you kill them not just clinically, but also socially, financially and most of all, painfully. And as the plane comes in for a landing people reach out for their phones as if they were oxygen masks being deployed for emergency. People like to check whether their driver has arrived with such a sense of urgency it would seem that their driver was going to bus the plane from the runway to the docking gate. I have started hating that that annoying tune which all Nokia phones play when you switch them on.
Some useless rant
Till later!
Cheers
Well its all going to come back at you...
Cabin Bag Rush: Since the 18th century Gold Rush, little of such widespread interest and intrigue has happened to keep people’s competitive spirit on the edge. It is a time-centric sport, jump up too early and you will be hushed back to your confinement by the taunting attendants who may belt you up… hey don’t go there… no I ain’t talking leather, mister, too late and you will be caught in the Great traffic jam… So it’s actually much like a 100m dash.
The idea is to anticipate the seatbelt sign going off and before the first decibel is emitted from that ‘ping’ alarm, you should already have opened the overhead lockers, grabbed your bag and made it to the door. And get extra points if you can displace other stuff and a bonus if the same lands on someone’s head. Such excitement, such thrill, such effort and such a sense of accomplishment...and all for waiting together to leave the departure lounge and stand by the baggage conveyer waiting for your bag to appear.
The ever-popular rebel: I mean we all know how little there is to do for air service staff. I know you can’t say air hostess anymore but I am clueless as to what is the current correct reference. Some people who don’t wear a seat belt or keep their seats reclined, tables unfastened, screens lowered, etc. are just creating a sense of purpose for these otherwise (sometimes lost) youngsters. They have the daunting task of ensuring that people who couldn’t comprehend the instructions read in at least two languages with a smile on their faces. I think removing a seat belt when the seat-belt sign gives some kind of cheap thrill. The kind one gets from flouting the law, when no one’s looking.
In fact, the only act of trust that we get to witness is that we hand over our lives into the hands of a couple of people who we don’t know or haven’t even seen. These were same guys who I am not sure were either smashed a few hours back by some good liquor. Or just had a very upsetting argument with some one on the way to the airport
Mobile phone pressure: Asking a person to switch off his / her mobile phone is the new social equivalent of public embarrassment; you would rather switch off the person’s pacemaker or life support systems. Because when you make them switch of their mobiles, it would appear that you kill them not just clinically, but also socially, financially and most of all, painfully. And as the plane comes in for a landing people reach out for their phones as if they were oxygen masks being deployed for emergency. People like to check whether their driver has arrived with such a sense of urgency it would seem that their driver was going to bus the plane from the runway to the docking gate. I have started hating that that annoying tune which all Nokia phones play when you switch them on.
Some useless rant
Till later!
Cheers
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