May 21, 2009

Miniscule versus Minuscule

The other day I was reading Jug Suraiya (Angrezi ! Maro Goli in TOI of May 20, 2009). He has, as is his wont, written a very satirical article on Hinglish.

One issue which I would like to take up with him is miniscule versus minuscule. Online M-W dictionary mentions that that miniscule, a variant of minuscule has been in use from the late 19th century (link given below).

miniscule

How can 200+ yr old usage be termed wrong. A Churchillian quote is called for here :- "Ending preposition is something with which I will not put"

Jug Bhai, please clarify whether my periods should be inside the parenthesis or out.

But, then as he says, ki pharak pehenda.

May 17, 2009

A wooden bridge

This quaint but sturdy bridge made of wood was completed in 2006 across the river Thimpu chhu.

Bolla di sapone con effetti speciali!!

A soap bubble. Just like life ! So beautiful yet so ephemeral and evanescent. Gone in a jiffy.

Humpty's fall

Of all the silly things that have happened to me the silliest occurred on Friday 08, 2009 when in a

 rush to reach back home I slipped at my work place. And, Humpty had a very hard fall and broke 

his right hip. Lucky me😅 I fell in the operation theatre of my hospital. My sawbones has advised 08

 weeks of strict bed rest with no weight bearing by the right leg. Now, confined to  bed with nothing

 else to do but twiddle my thumbs the whole day long. To top it all, my family has gone out of station

 albeit for a very short period. This convalescence period and enforced solitude is an absolute nada.

I might die of boredom by the time my hip gets properly knitted up again.

May 11, 2009

Bhutan

During our Bhutan vacation last June we accidently discovered this bar. We spent a beery afternoon at this serene though soliatary watering hole for wandering tourists and indigens. Two bottles of beer were needed to wash down the fiery sting of komadatze (a tasty dish of green chillies in cheese sauce). One of the most memorable afternoon spent away from the hustle and bustle of a hectic lifestyle.