July 5th – Sunday

1. Coco / Cocoa ( official spelling ) 

Switching to monthly blogging now. Week 13-16 was the month of June.

Rumi was renamed to Coco. Rumi sounded so much alike Sufi. Coco was our back up name and all agreed.

Coco bites and scratches us a lot. All of us have cuts and bruises because of her. And night she is a terror. She hardly sleeps for 2 hours and by midnight she is up and running – biting legs and hands and brushing past the face. I had to cordone off her with boxes – every night it would be my ritual. The defenses will work for only 2 or 3 days and this intelligent cat will figure a way to come out.

Coco had a few nature call accidents – on our bed – exactly at the center – again and again. We had to block that spot with boxes till she got used to the litter box. Otherwise training coco was a cakewalk. Cats are very intelligent ( sorry doggies – I love you all but facts are fact ) – and she quickly got it.

It was San’s idea. I did not want to step out of the house – lockdown Et al. Her idea was to go some 50-60 Kms outside Bangalore, spread out a blanket under a tree, have lunch and get back. We drive towards Shivanadurga – never reach it, but instead take a detour on Mysore Road -and have a outdoors experience after a long time.

We made some critical mistakes during the trip. Carried only 3 bottles of drinking water which was not adequate for us. Also we did not get water to wash our hands – so we got some water bottles from a shop. Also on the way, in one of the villages, San spotted mangoes being sold by an old man. We had to get it. Other than this we did not have any other interaction with outside world.

We made a checklist for picnics in future

1. Water – Sufficient for both drinking and for washing hands.

2. Polythene gloves and garbage bag – even before we can spread our blanket we have to do thoroughly clean the place – there are lot of bottles, broken beer bottles – with kids and pets – we have to be thorough. 

3. A flask with coffee / tea – we were tempted to stop for coffee/tea but better sense prevailed – and tea cups. 

4. A knife to cut fruits etc.

5. Old Newspapers.

We want to leave the place cleaner than we found – and leave nothing but organic waste.

NEET exam date was July 26th. It was decided to transfer Charu back to her home. Passes were obtained – but we had a problem. If Charu’s dad comes to Bangalore to pick Charu, he will have to quarantine for 2 weeks. If San and I go to Hosur to drop Charu – when we get back we will have to be in quarantine.

We decided to send Charu through a contact. The D day arrived and we went to meet this contact – who said he has a car with an e-pass and will help. Only after we met him we realised it had become hard to transfer as there is lot of checking. His driver suggested lets go to the border near Anekal. When we reached there we saw the border was closed. Charu’s Dad came to the other side and the exchange happened. 

In May we had planned to Tonsure Amu’s baby hair. In between San started reading Death by Sadhguru where Sadhguru says it is important to remove the hair of the baby, because still there is link to the previous birth Karma via the hair. San was even more determined to do it. And so one fine Sunday – she played the barber and tonsured cute Amu’s hair. 

Coco – touchwood – has grown quite fast. She is not that frail being anymore. 

Once we took her for vaccination around Mid -June, but the vet said let her put some weight. Last weekend when we went the pet clinic was crowded. Will have to go on a weekday.

Bangalore covid cases have started increasing. Around 10 Apartment Complexes around our Apartment have one or two cases. Lot of debates happening within our Apartment Complex who to handle quarantining. 

Things are just starting here.