AFVOA Newletters of Year 2002

Page 6 of 84 Chennai-can you identify the place?” The prizes were picked up by the better read ones. Towards the end, Maj Gen Ram Naidu handed out prizes won by the participants in the various games. There were prizes galore, ranging from a BSA SLR cycle, two Sumeet mixies, tea, shirts, torches, cough syrup(!), inhalers, pain balms, etc etc., too numerous to be listed. Smt (Dr) Rukmani Gopal and Smt Prasad bagged the Sumeet Mixies. Smt Neelavathi Ramachandran was the lucky winner of the BSA SLR bicycle. For all the gifts that were given out as prizes, credit goes to Col RI Subramaniam and Maj VS Chitrapu, who with their untiring efforts managed to ensure that everyone who attended the picnic not only carried away pleasant memories, but also some item as a prize/gift. There was something for everyone. Some took away talcum powder others toffees or pain balms or biscuits. Tea and biscuits were served around 1530 hours., which was also a signal that the members had to pack up and move into the vehicles for the drive back to the Youth Hostel/their homes. Maj VS Chitrapu and Arun, who is Wg Cdr Muthu’s younger son, were the official photographers of the day, with Maj Chitrapu even persuading couples to perform a romantic walk along the tree lined pathways for recording on the handycam. A group photograph was taken immediately after tombola against the backdrop of the central auditorium. The day was idyllic, combining the rare beauty of the spot, with the weather, such that it would be impossible not to bring back fond memories of service along the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. The venue is truly worth re-visiting, and the Committee did well by choosing to have the annual picnic in December, thereby ensuring a pleasant and relaxing climate. The attendance was also good, though it could have been better, given that it was not the marriage season. We set course on the return journey at 1700, and after a pleasant drive reached the Youth Hostel a little after 1800 hrs. Gen Ram Naidu, Brig Subramanyam, Col Krishnaswami and Col Viswanathan, on behalf of the organising committee, thanked all the participants, and the rest of the organising committee for the splendid effort put in. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ New Members Happiness comes through doors you didn’t even know you left open . ~ Unknown We welcome the following officers who have joined the Association: a) Col John Philip Devadason, AEC, b) Lt Col V Jagadeesan, Arty, c) Capt MV Raghavan, Arty d) Wg Cdr C Ravishankar e) Brig GS Selvaraj, AMC, f) Capt R Shankar, ASC ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ An elderly carpenter told his employer of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a leisurely life with his wife. He would miss the pay check, but he needed to retire. The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.