Summer vacations

Summer vacations. Reading Enid Blyton. Eating Viva in a cup, occasionally substituted by fresh 'Maanga pachadi'(Mango Chutney) or Thattai(Snack) topped with 'Grand Sweets' Tomato thokku(Tomato pickle). Special lunch everyday followed by an afternoon nap. Or if there's a powercut, scouting off to find something to snack on from the 'Valabiro'(Cupboard), interrupted by a 'Badava Rascal Enna Ithu Loda Loda Nu Sattham Pottundu!'(Rascal! Why are you making so much noise ? ) when there are too many Murukkus in your hand and the 'Thooku'(Vessel) gives way resulting in a resounding clatter. Visits from the 'Thengakaaran'. Fighting for the best 'Elaneer'(raw coconut). Giving the dogs a bath. Trying to build bird baths. Building instead ugly pits all around the garden, lined with flimsy plastic sheets, which would invariably give way to the water in it. Going to the beach to play frisbee and then eating dinner at Drive in Woodlands(the times we're too dirty) and Eden(the other less frequent times). Badminton. Playing hide and seek/ police-robber outside the house and then coming home to drink cold rose milk.

Sigh.