April | 2024 | viewvin

Here is our Coconut Man :

At mid morning he will do the rounds of our quaint village as he calls out

‘Nari….i…..Yaaal .( Nariyal which means coconut in Hindi)

If he misses out on his regular customers , another hawker also selling coconuts will take a round . Obviously there is competition between the two of them to get more business.

Our man is very pleasant . He actually posed for these pictures .

He offers you a choice of coconuts; either the ‘malai’ one i.e with more coconut flesh and less water or the ‘pani’ one i.e more of coconut water.

He carries a sharp knife which can even slice off someone’s neck. Ha, ha …

With a swipe or two, he proceeds to cut a small piece at the top of the coconut and with that piece he uses it to scrape off the ‘malai’ (from inside), which is delicious to eat and pours out the coconut water into your vessel . He can pour it out even into a plastic sachet he carries.

This is my favourite mid morning drink

I was away for a long time and wondered whether he would still be on his coconut rounds when I returned .

Yes he was …..and he gave me a huge smile. Instead of giving me a welcome drink , he had increased his price to Rs 70/- ………After reminding him that I was his old and faithful customer, he did reduce his price to Rs 60/-

I will always look forward to our ‘coconut man’ .

Coconut water is a good alternative for those who are lactose intolerant. It is hydrating, low in calories and rich in potassium which is an essential electrolyte .

The flesh of coconut is rich in antioxidants, has powerful antibacterial properties, and may support better blood sugar control.

It is a source of many minerals . Its fibre content helps in gut health .

So coconut is good for heart health , weight loss and digestion . However because it is high in calories and saturated fats , it needs to be eaten in moderation.

So , cheers to you when in India, for the sweet coconut water, and the rich ‘malai’.

The Postbox

The good old postbox .

When was the last letter you posted ?

I remember we had to note the time for clearance so we could ensure that the letter posted would be cleared in time.

There would also be a different postbox for faster delivery of any mail. ( Green in colour).

When one posts a letter you had to ensure a correct value of stamp was stuck onto the envelope .

The postman cleared the postbox at the designated time and then mail was sorted to be sent to the respective destinations.

Most often the local letters were posted in the postbox .

Foreign mail would be weighed at the counter and appropriate stamp stuck and handed over to the clerk .

These were sent by airmail.

To save on the cost of foreign mail , one could send letters by sea .

This is a big difference to the current way of communication. We would send Christmas cards at least over a month before the 25th December. However post by sea mail could take even two months and it’s not surprising that greeting cards would reach even after Christmas.

During the early years , there were inland letters and foreign letters (aerogramme) which had already been stamped for use. Even earlier were the self stamped cards.

Now most people prefer sending greetings by WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram or on the email. This communication is instantaneous. No paper is involved .

Do you prefer the card or a greeting on the internet ? Which is more personalised?

Technology has improved in leaps and bounds

So where is our postbox now ?

It has become an antique, and beautifully coloured in red; a treasure for our memories.