The Aloe Vera is a stem-less perennial plant which typically flowers during the summer. Here’s a good website with more information about this plant.
My Aloe Vera
One day, I noticed a smaller aloe vera plant growing along with the original one in the same pot, so I transplanted it to a smaller pot.
Little Sister
I keep the big one in direct sunlight and the little one in partial shade.
This plant requires almost no maintenance except occasional fertilizing.
I water it between twice a week during peak winters and every day during peak summers. I fertilize it every 2 months or depending on when it shows signs of growth.
If you cut or puncture one of the leaves, a sticky gel comes out and the cut tip fuses in a few days and self heals. I believe I am supposed to put the gel on my skin when I get sunburnt, but the Lockdown doesn’t allow me to get one.
Here’re some good tools which will help you with your gardening.
I have been having this one recurring nightmare for years. There are different variations, but the basic theme is the same.
Theme – I have not managed to graduate from college, because I haven’t passed anywhere between 6-14 exams after my last semester. Now, I am at a stage that I have to clear all my remaining subjects in the next exams, or I have to do my graduation all over again. Also, I lose my job if I don’t produce a valid degree.
Variations – In some of these nightmares, I am determined to study hard and pass this time around, but when I open my books, all the pages are blank, so I cannot study. In some variations, I do manage to study, but end up sleeping through the exam day, waking up in panic in the evening. In some cases, I am not even aware of the exams till the last moment and I end up rushing to the exam centre with no preparations.
In real life, I did manage to graduate almost 14 years ago, but by the skin of my teeth. I passed some subjects (EMF) by some fluke (I studied only a few topics and those are the ones which appeared on the exam) or after multiple attempts (Mathematics-1 took 5 attempts).
However, when I I truly lucked out was during the 8th semester exams. I had appeared for both 7th (failed subjects) and 8th semester exams during my last attempt and had only attempted the bare minimum questions in some of them. I was more surprised than relieved when the results were announced and I realised I had passed in all of these exams and graduated successfully. Later, when the mark sheets were released, I realised it was another fluke.
Fluke!
You see, I had actually failed in Subject 5 above, but, our university had a provision of grace marks. However, the rules were very specific and I had never received grace marks ever, before this. Some rules
You would get up to a total of 10 grace marks per semester only.
You would only get grace marks if it enables you to pass in all subjects in that semester
You would get grace marks only in certain specific denominations
Exactly 10 marks in one subject (I would get grace marks only if I score exactly 30 in that subject. 31 would also not do)
Exactly 5 marks each in 2 subjects (Need to score exactly 35 in 2 subjects)
Exactly 2 marks in 1 subject (which is what I got)
Even though I failed in Subject 5, I was awarded 2 grace marks and I passed that subject and graduated. If I had 1 mark more or less in that subject, I wouldn’t have graduated when I did. Maybe the fact that I graduated because of such a fluke is what triggers these nightmares. Strangely, when I wake up and realise it was all a nightmare, it still doesn’t make me feel better. What a nightmare!
The kicker? The subject that I couldn’t even get passing marks in was related to Computer Networking and I am now a network engineer.
This year, I had the weirdest birthday ever. Normally, my birthday is spent with a close family lunch and a wider family dinner. This year, however, I had to travel to Bangkok for work & since this was my last week in this particular company, I didn’t say no.
I went on the company trip and planned my family to visit me on the weekend before my birthday and stay till the day after my birthday, but because of the Covid-19 situation, their trip had to be cancelled. On top of that, my birthday was a Thai holiday, so I was staring at spending my birthday alone.
I started the day waking up late and having a leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
English breakfast + Samosa
I saw a couple of movies, and then was surprised by the Hotel staff with a birthday cake. The cake was delicious and heavy, so I skipped lunch.
Cake!
In the evening, I took a long walk to Benjakiti Park, took the Skytrain From Asok to Phrom Phong station and spent some time at the Emquartier mall. After roaming round the Glass Quartier, the Waterfall Quartier, I headed for dinner at the Helix Quartier.
The Helix Quartier is a beautifully designed section of the mall. As the name says, it has a gently sloping walkway in the shape of a Helix without a clear distinction between different floors, with restaurants lining both sides of the walkway. I found a nice Korean Organic Chicken and Rice place and had a hearty meal.
Organic Korean Chicken and Rice
After dinner, I went back to the hotel, alone, watched some TV and fell asleep, thus bringing to end, the weirdest birthday ever.
Last week, the lockdown rules were slightly relaxed in Gurgaon and it is now allowed to go out and do some things. Freedom at last!
I had been waiting to see my ENT, so I used this chance to step out of my apartment for the first time in almost 2 months.
It was a surreal experience driving after so many days; I had a continuous feeling of guilt, as if I was doing something wrong.
Some Beverages
I returned back home soon enough, but at least it gave me a chance to stock on some beverages. There were very limited brands available, but I wasn’t complaining.
Today is Day 33 of the lockdown. In these 33 days I haven’t gone out of my apartment complex gate once. And it is starting to affect me in some weird and unexpected ways.
I do not miss socialising at all. In fact, I welcome this time away from unnecessary socialising.
I am having very vivid dreams and remembering them for a change. Normally I hardly have dreams and don’t remember them later.
I miss going to Ambience Mall, drinking coffee ☕️ at Barista, eating at Pizza 🍕 Express and just roaming around the mall. It is unlikely malls will open even after the lockdown is relaxed and I am not sure how the mall or the business inside will survive this.
I miss drinking fresh beer 🍻 at pubs. Again, not sure when this will happen again.
I miss eating out at restaurants. My thoughts especially drift towards Toninos at Two Horizon Center on Golf Course road
I miss driving my car 🚗 , while listening to BBC World Service.
I miss ordering stuff from Amazon, waiting for the delivery and unboxing the items.
I miss going to the park and walking🚶♂️ around.
I miss going to the nursery to buy new plants 🌱 and fertiliser.
I miss going to Galleria, sitting opposite the fountain and sipping Coca Cola.
As per the current situation, restrictions should start lifting in 11 more days, but I have a feeling that’s not going to be the case and things won’t start going back to normal for a long time.
The Narrowleaf Zinnia is a seasonal flowering plant. I got this one early in March and it bloomed recently, with a few other flowers on the way.
My Narrowleaf Zinnia
This is a perennial plant which blooms late spring and stays in bloom for a few weeks (I hope it stays this way over the summers).
Bloom!
This plant requires almost no maintenance except occasional fertilizing.
I keep this in direct sunlight.
I water it between twice a week during peak winters and every day during peak summers. I fertilize it every 2 months or depending on when it shows signs of growth.
Here’re some good tools which will help you with your gardening.
Today is day 16 of my lockdown (Day 11 of the official government lockdown).
During this time, I haven’t used my car, gone out of my apartment complex, or seen many human beings (which is good). I have gone out of my flat less than 5 times, to collect essentials, which are now being delivered at the society gate.
Rare View
On the bright side, the air is clean, weather is starting to heat up and the flowers are blooming.
On the negative side, I am definitely getting some cabin fever now and my allergies have flared up. Hope for all this to go back to relatively normal soon.
The Flaming Katy is a very hardy flowering plant. I recently started with a pink coloured one and then got a red one followed by a yellow one. Here’s a good website with more information about this plant.
White-Pink Katy
This is a perennial plant which blooms late winters and early spring and stays in bloom for weeks at end (Mine are still going strong after 2 months now). The colours are vibrant and look very beautiful.
Red Katy
These plants require almost no maintenance except occasional fertilizing.
Red-Yellow Katy
I keep the Flaming Katy in direct sunlight.
I water them between twice a week during peak winters and every day during peak summers. I fertilize them every 2 months or depending on when they show signs of growth.
Here’re some good tools which will help you with your gardening.
I inherited some small/sickly shrubs from my parents when they moved to to a different city. I re-potted them into a bigger pot and it grew tenfold in a span of a few weeks and bloomed.
This, below, is a Crown of Thorns. Very hardy shrubs, they don’t care where you put them, how much sunshine they get or how frequently you water them.
The mother shrub
The best part is, you can cut off any of the branches and pot them and they grow into full-sized plants. Some of them are part of my plant wall (bottom row).
The flowers are in perpetual bloom all year round.
Bathroom Desert Rose
The 2 above are on different bathroom window sills.
These plants require absolutely no maintenance.
The first one is kept in partial shade, the other 2 get direct sunlight via windows 3-4 hours in the summers.
I water them once a week or less. Although they don’t require any fertiliser, I fertilise them every 2 months, which encourages leaf growth.
Here’re some good tools which will help you with your gardening.
