AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 21 of 61 took the first group for going around the Air Force Station. One of our own buses took the shoppers. There was a minor crises when Lt. Col. Arunagiri Thasari with his grandson on his shoulder was looking for a lift to take the boy for a monthly dose of ‘Polio-drops’. It was soon resolved when the Air Force Officers arranged for a bus to take them to the MH and get the Polio-drops administrated. Smt. Mohandas rightly, repeatedly thanked the Air Force Station administration, for their kind gesture and prompt action. As soon as the different groups returned and reassembled, bar-coupons were given to everyone against signature by an Officer from the Station. (I also signed and collected one, but realized later that it was meant for beer alone. Soft drinks were on the house, kind courtesy Air Force Mess. When I went to return the coupons to the OIC Bar, I was told that, only the surrendered coupons will be accounted for and hence, I need not worry about returning the coupon book! I carried back the coupon book as a memento!). Three bar counters were active on the lawn. After the new members were welcomed and introduced, Smt. Mohandas announced a party game and invited four leaders to take their positions at the four tables placed at the flanks. She then asked 10 members each to form into four groups and join each leader. The game was ‘theme kite making’ and time given was 20 minutes. Required materials were already placed on the tables. It was fun to watch the veterans running around with the kites created by their own teams to catch the attention of the judges and the spectators. Names of winning team and runner-up were announced. Thereafter a humorous skit in Tamil was enacted under the direction of Smt. Lakshmi Sampath. The other ladies who participated were Smt. Chitkala Govindaswamy and Smt. Devi Rattan. Thereafter, Air Cmde and Ms PK Bapat, accompanied by his team of Officers and their families arrived at the ‘shamiyana’. They were welcomed by our President, Maj Gen. CT Chari along with Mrs. Mythily Chari, Brig Muthulaxmi, our Vice-President and other members of the organizing team. As soon as they all settled down, Smt. Mohandas announced the next party game and requested our guests to also participate. Smt. Chitkala Govindaswamy, who conducted an interesting game ‘Namma Madras’, placed a board on the stage with ten black and white photos of old Madras pinned on it. The participants (in pairs, one lady with one gent) were to identify them and name the prominent present landmarks at those places. She later gave out the DS solution. Names of winners were announced. By then it was time for lunch. The AOC, his team of Officers and their families were requested to join veterans for lunch. Lunch was served in the dining hall. President AFVOA escorted the AOC and his lady wife and helped them at the buffet table. The buffet lunch was rich in quality, quantity and service, which gave everyone the feeling of attending a ‘party buffet’ and not a picnic lunch! After lunch, when all had settled down in the ‘shamiyana’, sale of tickets for two houses of tombola was announced. The Air Force Officers and their families were invited to play tombola. Single and set tickets were sold out in one go for both houses and the game was conducted by Smt. Mohandas and Brig. VA Subramanyam. At the end of the game, snowball rolled over to the next session! Tombola was followed by some melodious songs from Smt. Mohandas accompanied by her brother Capt. Ravi of Indian Navy, on the guitar, a solo from Capt. Ravi; another number from Smt. Shashi Sampath, Mrs. Mohandas made a request to the Station Officers and families to volunteer a song. Promptly, in response, Gp Capt Saha came to the stage and sang an old Hindi number, which was appreciated by all.