BHS MEETING: 03 JANUARY 2017

These picture posts are personal in nature and have no relevance to anyone  visiting the blog other those in the pictures . 

Eating disorder in cats ,homeopathic remedy

Very often it happens that animals stop eating due to extreme hot weather during summer.

Some Indian dogs and cats have taken full control of my house and I get a chance to observe them at very close range.

 Dogs are comfortable with one full meal once a day and one or two roti or biscuit in the evening. 

Cats on the other hand are voracious eaters . I have never been fond of cats and have never particularly adopted one . But animals tend to understand safety and security much better. There are two female cats in my locality. They come and sit on the kitchen window few times each day and we all have got accustomed to offering some rice along with fish or milk whenever possible . They are interested in only fooding and not lodging except in very cold weather. We have been observing that over the last few years these cats bring in kittens and keep them in our house. Comfortably they stay under the bed, on the rack or under the table. This despite the fact that we also have two dogs staying in. Once brought in it becomes our duty to protect the kittens and let the mother nurse them properly. Once these grow up , the mother would take them outside into the garden and play with them , teach them to hunt , feed them some hunted foods sometimes and teach them to climb trees and boundary walls. This normally takes three to four months . Soon the cat would desert them . By now these smaller kittens have got accustomed to staying inside the house and have chosen their place of sleeping at night and have learnt to avoid the dogs especially during time of feeding. The mother would once again switch over to the only fooding policy and stay hostile to the kittens . These smaller ones having been accustomed to our house since young prefer to stay with us. This way we have got a good collection of eight cats over the years. We have learnt to accept the kittens over the years and have become more of a amusement than anger. 

Getting back to our topic. While dogs can go without food for a few days without much harm it is not so with the cats as their body tend to metabolize food very fast and they need food very often. While a bath or wet sponge is alright for dogs , cats do not like it and it tend to do more harm to their skin. 

If a cat stops eating for a day or too , it is time to take action because they become weak very soon. Taking the cat to a vet is not always easy and with all respect vets tend to overlook diseases in cats or dogs and are more busy with bigger animals. I have learnt it the hard way on previous occasions. I normally use homeopathy medicines and a homeopath doctor, my friend, helps me a lot . Last time when one of the cats stopped eating due to hot weather he suggested me NUX VOM 30 . If that failed he told me to use ARSENIC 30. It worked. Since then I have been using nux vom in such conditions. 

Both medicines are available in homeopathy medicine shops. Get 5/10 ml of Nux vom 30 or Arsenic 30. In quarter cup water add one or two drops . Such shops would also give you a plastic dropper , if not ask for one. Feed the animal one dropper of the solution. If required another dose may be given after about 8-12 hours. Discard the solution. The medicine itself keeps well for about a year and costs 20-30 rupees in most places. 

Arsenic 30 is also useful in stomach infections in cats or dogs. Dogs that lose hair also respond well to Arsenic 30 given once a day for three four days .

RANCHI TOUR From Durgapur on Car

         
              

          RANCHI is 240 km from Durgapur. My friend and I decided to cover it on our own car though it is also accessible by train. We decided to go via Purulia. There is also a route via Bokaro. We started around 9:30 am taking the national highway to Asansol. People going first time along this route, may continue on the highway leaving Asansol on the left till Jubilee Petrol pump. Turn left at this point which leads to a for point crossing. Turn right and proceed till Neamatpur. In the first four point crossing turn left again and this would bring you to Disergarh bridge. This road straightway leads to Raghunathpur.
            At Raghunathpur you will be greated by Joychondi Hills which is a place famous for picnic. This is also a very scenic place with few lakes among the hills. Many mountaineering groups hold their rock climbing training here. The straight road passes beside Raghunathpur college towards Purulia which is about an hour from this place.
            People going by this route need not enter Purulia town as this road by passes the town . A little ahead is a three point crossing at which one needs to turn right . This road would take you straight to  Ranchi. About 50 km before Ranchi the road smoothly starts meandering and climbing . This is the most beautiful part of the road passing over low hill . Both Jonna and Hundru falls come in this route though we decided to stay in Ranchi and see the falls next day.Ranchi was once a very serene place. It had become a bit crowded now. Nonetheless roads in the town are wide and well maintained. One of our friends had suggested we stay in the station area. There are many hotels near the station ranging from very cheap to star category. Likewise we took left turn at the first four point crossing. This place known as the Kantatoli chowk  is a vital  four point crossing in Ranchi town. The road on left took us to the station area straight.
             In the station area we came across a very helpful arrangement of overnight car parking at very nominal rates. At once we parked our car took the ticket and our luggage and became free .
             Though there are certain parks and places in town which can well comprise of a one day sightseeing, the falls are the most noteworthy places in Ranchi. We refreshed in the hotel and soon moved out to make enquiries.
              At one time Ranchi was a place famous for short trips and picnics. Though the number has fallen due to various reasons, still many tourists and locals comes to visit the falls. Next morning we got up early. Keeping in mind covering as much as possible on day one, we walked to the station parking place. Our car was safe and waiting for the days trip. Wish there was a person who could do dusting at nominal rates.

HUNDRU

Both Hundru and Jonnah are about forty km from Ranchi and falls on Ranchi Purulia road. So we had to go back on the same road till a point where a road on the left side leads to Hundru. The falls come about 12 km from this point.

JONNAH FALLS

Not many tourists were visible, maybe because we were too early. A barrage has been constructed upstream the river and the river has lost much of its flow. Nevertheless it is still as beautiful. While coming from Ranchi, Hundru comes on the left and Jonnah on the right a bit far off on Ranchi Purulia road. By around 3pm we were back in Ranchi after covering Jonnah.

Tribal Craftsman at Jonnah

In the evening we went to the main market area and did a bit of window shopping. There is also a similar parking place in the market area . People staying in hotels in market area may use that. Autos ply on route basis as well as on reserve hire in Ranchi. Moving around is not a problem, in fact it is a lot better than moving in ones own car inside the city.

           

DASHAM FALLS

We got ready very early next morning and were off by 7.30 . Last night one gentleman had given us clear directions to reach the Ranchi Tata road via Nankum . The same road can also be accessed via katatoli chowk but this route was shorter. Dassam falls is about 50 km from Ranchi . Last 10 km passes through small villages and its very quiet and serene . There are two view points in Dassam actually . On this one we actually reached the lower falls . The other view point offers different view but the falls cannot be walked into from there.

Ranchi lake from Pahari Mandir

              After we got back to Ranchi and had lunch, we still had plenty of time to visit Ranchi Lake , the Pahari Mandir for which we took a auto on hire. Pahari Mandir can only be accessed on foot where there are steps to take you to the top. This place offers excellent aerial views of the town and its adjoining areas. There was still time to squeeze in Rock garden before sunset. We made it on a route auto.

At the Rock Garden

There are few more other places of tourist interest in the city but we were short of time and were supposed to leave next morning. However most of Ranchi and surroundings can be covered in two days.


    Local people are very helpful and we got most of the directions from people on road. There are plenty of hotels in Ranchi but most budget hotels are near the railway station. There are other waterfalls also in Ranchi on the Ranchi Bokaro route. People who are on extended holiday may also consider Netarhat which offers a hill stay although about 120 km away.

Trip to Mukutmonipur

IT was a spur of the moment decision. Otherwise nobody could think of making a trip to Mukutmonipur in Bankura in the month of April.
Actually due to a depression, there has been heavy rain the day before that brought in a change in weather .My friend from Kolkata  was on a visit to my place in Durgapur  and this time he was not with his family.
Mukutmanipur is about 105 km from Durgapur via barrage and Bankura town.It is a straight route till Khatra. There is another route via Ranigunj that passes by the Susunia hills and goes to Bankura. Amarkanan also comes in this route.  We started around 9.30 am. Direct buses are available or one may take bus for Midnapore or purulia and break journey. If on a bus get down at Khatra and take an auto or hired  cab. Just  after crossing the canal at Khatra the road turns right. This part of the road is very beautiful. One  can see the hills far away and there are palash trees all over . The road passes beside small villages. Needless  to mention that this will be a treat to the eyes during spring.

Mukutmonipur

Mukutmonipur is just 6/7km from Khatra. At zero point the road takes a turn towards the barrage on Kangsavati river. Before that you shall find a road on right that takes you to Peerless resorts. There is also a mid budget hotel midway in which we put up. You can find many eateries near the zero point that offer snacks and simple meal. Most of these were closed due to off seaon. Some stalls selling handicrafts were open however. This place seemed to me to be getting some customers year round due to proximity of colleges and budding film enthusiasts.

Place for stay

A tourist resort run by wbfdc is located very near the zero point. It is built on a small hill and offers the best location .Though  ideal for most tourists the place could be bit difficult if your group consists of elderly people  . It also  requires prior booking.There are some other hotels nearby that  offer ac, non ac rooms. Most people come here on day trips and picnics but staying gives a time to spend late evening and  morning  in a serene place.
The main attraction of the place is the barrage with a wide road on top. You can go deep inside but a formal permission need to  be taken from the local office. The road atop the barrage offers breathtaking view of the lake with hills jutting out from the water on one side and small villages on the other . You can get a splendid view of sunset. There is a confluence of three rivers about 8km ahead which we could not make. Visit the local temple also .
Medium budget hotels and lodges are available like Green View, Monalisa, Anupama.




Place is ideal for a short trip and draws crowd on weekends. Another time to visit could be during the rainy season. I asked the hotel manager and he said rainy season would be just as fine because you don't have much to see here except the lake which will be full at that time.

QUIZ : How to become a quiz master

The prerequisite to participate in a quiz is knowledge- uncontrolled, unrelated stack of information in ones brain . People who render themselves to be quizzed necessarily soak up information all along their daily activities and are able keep it in their brain bringing it to the RAM area when required. That is not at all an easy job.

    Personally I have been able to talk to some people who have taken it as a favorite pastime and as a passion . They form part of clubs with the sole mission of participating in quiz contests. To do excellent in quiz one has to follow certain things:

To read and read more!  Newspapers, Magazines, GK books everything. What happened in the present , what relation does it bear with the past and what could happen in future.

Nowadays the internet provides practically unlimited information. Whenever they come across information they do a extrapolated search and whoever is related in whatever way to that name or place becomes known and remembered.

They do some brain exercises , like concentrating on a point or staying blank for few minutes.

Some even take brain strengthening tonics. Now I do not know if such tonics belong to steroid groups and entail doping charges.

But despite such valiant efforts many are still susceptible to failure.

    The idea that caught me was to become a quiz master. It is a lot easy once one has attended a few quizzes. All it requires is presentation skills and some knowledge of the rules and how quiz is conducted. One only requires a thorough control of one language. If it is English one can be sure of the promise it holds. A quiz master needs to remember nothing because one is at liberty to have the answers. Nobody has ever quizzed a quiz master so one can rest assure that the Quiz master's knowledge will never be put to test. Without the enormous burden of information on ones brain, the quiz master will still be the centre of attraction in a quiz. While the winners get prize while losers get a consolation dialogue of their best efforts, the quiz master would most likely get a big or small packet for appearance.

So next time one prepares for a quiz be sure to check the other option ahead. Looking forward to hear from budding Quiz Masters

HomeMade Haldi(Turmeric)

 Paste:

So often we come across newspaper reports of food adulteration. There are reports that haldi powder  available in the market is mixed with lead chromate and saw dust . Lead chromate is a harmful chemical and carcinogen. It's daily intake even in small quantities may lead to cancer. 

Making Haldi dust at home may not be easy but haldi paste can be made with little effort and it keeps well in a refrigerator for about a week.

Haldi sticks

Buy dried haldi sticks from the market.

 In a mortar break the sticks into smaller size.  About 50 gms is enough for a small family for a week. The paste takes up water and swells. So be careful first time. I buy larger quantity of sticks and keep it crushed . 

Ground haldi

Soak the smaller pieces in water overnight or at least 8-10 hrs. It will make them soft.The haldi pieces will swell somehow. Put it in a mixer grinder with very little water. Start the mixer.After sometime remove the lid and little more water. Grind it further. Repeat this process adding very little water each time till a consistent paste is obtained.

This paste can be used for skin care as well as cooking.

For cleaning the grinder jar, use lukewarm water along with dishwasher and a worn out scrubber. Drop the scrubber into the jar and turn it with a spoon to avoid staining fingers. When the water turns deep yellow, discard it and repeat the process. You may also consider buying a separate jar and keeping it for making home ground spices like cumin, coriander etc.