Filter Coffee Break

On Breaks, Pauses, Intervals, Interludes & Intermissions

Dear Readers,

Thank you all for congratulating me and wishing me well on posting the 100th edition of FC.

I was quite touched when many of you said that you felt like your Sunday will not be the same without FC.

I thought of five expressions: break, pause, interval, interlude and intermission. I knew that I would be in a pause mode between FC100 & FC 101 but chose ‘Break' as it went well with a coffee break. I did not find it apt to use interval or intermission, as they are more popularly used to denote a short break in between a theatrical or musical or screening of a film. ‘Interlude’ besides being synonymous with interval and intermission, also means a piece of music between verses (between antara and mukhada or between two mukhadas of a song). It could also mean some amusement or diversion in between acts. In a music concert, the percussionists are given the opportunity to display their skills before the instrumentalist or a singer resumes the rendition. 

Why have I opted for a break? Writers’ block? Brain freeze? No, none of that. I am getting ready to fly to the US of A to spend some quality time with my granddaughter, born in April to my son and his charming wife. I expect to return by the second week of August and get the coffee brewing.

I thought it would be appropriate to share the comments on FC100 now and not wait till I post FC 101. Here are those comments:

Mr. Padmanabha, a nonagenarian and an erudite person, very kindly says: “​Dear Mr. Prasanna,

Congratulations on serving up 100 Filter Coffees - all of the same excellent quality, but each with a distinct flavour of its own. A fantastic weekly intellectual feast! There is a uniqueness in both choices of topics and in their presentation - light touches of humour as an overlay on almost scholastic detail! Maybe you should consider publishing edited versions of these ‘essays’ at some time. Looking forward to the next hundred.”

Maya Anand says: “You have described Shillong so beautifully – makes the place ethereal. I was there many years ago, and I wish I had seen it the way you described Shillong.”

Nisha says; “The travelogue was very interesting, Prasanna. Hope you have a great break! I look forward to the 2nd edition of Filter Coffee.”

Tarun Kunzru says: “Lovely Pras! For most mainland Indians, North East is unchartered territory. Real gem yet to be properly discovered.”

Ashvini Ranjan says: “Dear Prasanna, ninety-nine cups of Filter Coffee are more than enough to develop an addiction. It did make me look forward to reading every Sunday morning. For the hundredth cuppa, I eagerly waited. When I did not find it in my mailbox this morning, I thought the fear of the nineties had got better of you. Before I gave into disappointment, I checked the spam box and there it was, the 100th post on ‘Taking To The Hills’. Bravo, my friend, on your feat! Not a small one at that. You have earned a break. Don’t take long to pad up again for the second innings! Au revoir.”

My Birla colleague Dilip Gaur says: “Pras, congratulations on completing the century of FC – personally I would like you to go on: it makes an interesting read and keeps us connected! While I may not appear to have been actively engaged, I enjoyed reading your posts and Meghalaya is now on my bucket list. I would say take a break, but return soon!”

One of the reasons for ‘taking to the hills’ is the flooding of a river. Well, here’s a real-life narrative from our dear friend from the US, Lynn Weiss:

“Jim and I literally took to the hills for our wedding ceremony as the Susquehanna river ravaged and flooded the entire area in Pennsylvania in June 1972. 

Our wedding was cancelled as everything and place were flooded and all we could do was leave in a caravan to high ground in a nearby town. What should have taken 1/2 hour took us 3 hours, as all the bridges were underwater. 

We were married under a kupah, which is a Jewish tradition, in an Aunt's backyard where we first had to remove the clotheslines. Neighbors brought simple food and picked flowers from their garden for me to hold. Jim was in borrowed clothes as his house was underwater and guests invited and not invited came in whatever clothes they had available. I wore my mother-in-law’s wedding gown, unpressed. 

The wedding was small, simple and what we really wanted instead of the 350 Kosher wedding, but at a cost we so wish had not been the case. Yes, we “headed to the hills” and I’m glad we did and were able to do so.”

Shahji says: “These days taking to the hills means Kodai or Ooty etc. Could even be Dubai, especially if you need just to get out of your present place. We did visit Sikkim a few years back, but will need to make a tour to Meghalaya as advised by you.”

Dr. Naina has this to say: “I relished your FC-century cuppa and was reminded of the lovely movie ‘The Sound of Music’ where Julie Andrews goes to the hills leaving her nunnery for a break and sings ‘The hills are alive with the sound of music, with songs they have sung for a thousand years.’ You surely deserve a good long coffee break, and I am sure you will come up with much stronger and more refreshing FCs post your well-deserved and earned break! Have a great and safe holiday !”

Manivannan has added some useful info that I did not include in my narrative about Shilong. He says: 

Congrats on your century. Well done! Unlike the T20 where you could be a Jos Buttler and reach a ton in 50+ balls with 4's and 6's, you could only take singles to reach the 100 in 100 weeks. Kudos!! As for your visit to Assam/Meghalaya… it came at the right time to add my own comments as well. They are must-visit States in India and what struck us the most, beyond the beautiful landscape of mountains and falls, was the discipline of people and the cleanliness of the states. We did not see beggars on the road, and for someone from 'Namma Bengaluru', was amazed by the well-mannered drivers on the road. On the friendship road, you have spoken about, I heard this from the cab driver, all petrol pumps are on the side of Meghalaya. As petrol is cheaper in Meghalaya than in Assam, people cross over to the other side to fill the tanks, and so there is none on the Assam side. Fuel for thought :)

Thank you, Mani. In fact, you reminded me of another waterfall called Nohkalikai Falls near Cherrapunji. When we went there, thick clouds had descended, and we could not see but only hear the sound of the waterfall.

Most people who read FC 100 have put Shillong, and Meghalaya on their bucket lists. I urge them to visit:

https://www.meghalayatourism.in

Here are some Coffee Jokes:

Q: What is Depresso? 

A: Your mood when served a badly prepared espresso.

Q: What did the coffee tell the milk? 

A: I thought I was strong, but you creamed me!

Q: What is procaffeinating? 

A: The tendency to not do anything until you have had your coffee.

Friends, please take good care of yourselves and your families. I assure you I won’t procaffeinate returning with FC 101 :)

Pras