Friday, June 30, 2006

Servant's Registry

Lisa Feldmann is normally in charge of the staff registry but will be away until mid August. Until then, the registry is being kept by Jo Frogbrook. Members can contact her if they wish to have a look at it.

If you are moving away from Chennai this summer,
please remember to complete a Household Employee
Evaluation form and give it to Jo Fogbrook before you
leave. Forms are available at all general meetings. Try to include contact numbers so that Lisa can get a hold of the employee if a job comes up. It is also very helpful to give the employee a letter of reference which explains the employee's dates of employment, responsibilities, strengths and weaknesses, and a contact phone number for the employee. Happy trails!

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Ania's Farewell Message

Another global nomad packs up the tent and takes leave. . . . I take good memories with me from Madras due to the friendships and supportive community that the OWC has provided. Remind yourselves that newcomers are thirsty for information. Where to get decent bread (has anyone tried Winners Rotary Club Bakery on CP Ramaswamy, across the street from the tire place?), where to buy "safe" produce, where to get a specific cleaning product (the Dollar Store in Besant Nagar is next to the new Fab India). And like always, I find myself discovering a multitude of things left undone, if I only had one more year. The past few months I have been buying fabric and designing some of my own clothing. Had I another year, I think I'd start a little design business. Raw silk from Nalli's, gorgeous transparent material from Thakurdas that I lined with satin and designed an "Oscar" style dress, saree blouse fabric and white liner to make bed skirts, and even crazy prints from Cotton Alley to make pajamas for the uncles! Another little gem is the Little Theatre's Christmas Pantomime production. Be sure to go and take the kids. It is wonderful. This year's production is to be Romeo and Juliet,and as the script is being written by a good friend of mine, looks like it might be set in Mexico. Good British pantomime with a twist of local Madras.
Anyway, my best wishes to all of you and especially the playgroup moms, who really got me through some of the toughest days here in Chennai, and shared some of my happiest moments as well. Take care of each other and continue to welcome new people with open arms. This is a stellar community.
I know that this year the OWC will see some new life sparked into it with some really fun new things being spearheaded by Jo Frogbrook. Help out at the events (I know Sarah Woods and the rest of the Children's committee will need help around Halloween and early December!) and volunteer occasionally, it makes a huge difference. You really can make a difference here. I hope I have.
With warmest, warmest affection,
Ania Dimants
headed to Lusaka, Zambia

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Book Club

Dear Book Clubbers

The next book we will be discussing and reading is
My Temporary Son by Tim Murari
On Tuesday August 1

At Yvonne's house
Apt.D4
Mill Bank
4Boat Club Road
#rd Avenue
Ph:99404438080

12noon for social chat...
12.30pm Book discussion followed by lunch
Please warn in by calling Yvonne before31 July for catering purposes
Please invite new members or old and bring them along.
Many thanks ,

Joanne

President's Message

Firstly, I had to start by saying a big thank you to everyone, and I mean everyone (!), who turned up for our recent Ladies Who Lunch. We managed a record breaking 23 members and nearly caused the staff of the Copper Chimney to have a nervous breakdown as we had not bothered to pre-book. I would like to point out, in our defence, that we usually have a maximum turn-out of 8 members, so it was obviously a slow day in the Chennai social calendar! However, they managed to accommodate us comfortably and we enjoyed a tasty lunch.

Speaking of calendars, we have a lot of things going on in the next few months, starting on July 6th where we have been invited by the Anglo-Indian society to participate in their two week festival commencing with a free cooking demonstration and food tasting at the Taj Connemara at 3pm. Then on July 15th there is a Jazz Concert at the Music Academy at 7.30pm. Tickets for this range from 100Rs to 500Rs. If you are interested in attending, please warn-in to either myself or Natalie von Hoffmeister by July 1st for the cooking demo and by July 12th for the concert so we can confirm numbers to them. Other events they have planned include an English Play and Art Exhibition. These, and other events will be advertised around Chennai under the heading of Angloscapes so keep your eyes open.

The next date for the diary is our General Meeting on July 12th where we will be having a presentation by Laya a World Music Project set up to help the survivors of the 2004 tsunami. This promises to be a very interesting meeting so we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

We have also been working hard on the Welcome Back Lunch on the 16th August and tickets are on sale now! These can be purchased from committee members or at the General Meeting. They are also available from Alison Emoto and Susan Hopper. Remember, any small gifts you may have for the Gift Donation Table need to be sent to my home address by the 11th August – thank you!

As promised we have been listening to your suggestions and comments regarding new activities for the club and are in the process of putting together a monthly cooking group as well as looking for members interested in starting Majong. Other suggestions have included cinema trips and Ladies Nites. Come to the next meeting to find out more.

For those of you who are ‘out of station’ and not able to receive your monthly newsletter we have devised a group email system whereby we can let you know of important dates coming up. This is in addition to the blog and is just another way to reach as many of our members as possible.

And speaking of members….it is that time of year again when we are looking for everyone to renew their membership. Please complete the forms as soon as possible, ensuring that all your details are correct, so that the Membership Committee can produce the new handbook. Also, let us know of any favorite shops, services etc so that the back section is as up-to-date as possible.

See you at the food tasting!
Jo Frogbrook

July General Meeting

Wednesday, July 12th
Park Sheraton Hotel
10 AM Social Time
10:30 Presentation

Our entertainment committee has been very active and has arranged for representatives of the Laya Project to give a presentation at this meeting. The Laya project is a musical undertaking that uses the voices and talents of those who survived the tsunami. It is a celebration of life. This meeting is sure to be very interesting and enjoyable so don’t miss it!

As always, we will have tea, coffee and snacks as well as books for sale. New people are always welcome and both new and old should not forget their membership forms the coming year! Forms are enclosed with this newsletter and can be brought to the meeting.

Welcome Back Lunch

Wed. August 16th
Courtyard Marriott
Begins 11 AM
Lunch 12:30
Tickets Rs 400

Tickets are on sale now with all committee members, Alison Emoto at Alison’s Fabrics on College Road, and at play group for the Welcome Back Lunch. The theme this year will be ‘International Day’ and members are invited to wear national dress. A tongue-in-cheek approach is welcome, as is a more straight-forward take on things. The menu is still be determined, but, since it’s the Marriott, it will be good. Door prizes will be given out and a fun Chennai quiz will be held to test our members’ knowledge of this fine city. Should be a really good time.
We will also have tables representing our charities, the book stall, and an international table selling items from members’ home countries. Donations for this table arenow being collected. We are looking for small, inexpensive items such as key chains and souvenirs. Please send to Jo’s house by August 11th.

Ladies Who Lunch

Ponnusamy Hotel
Old 59 New 61 A, Vannanthurai, Anna Towers I Floor
MG Road Adyar (Above ‘Young Men Tailors’)
Wed. July 19th
12:30 PM
24916842

With many locations throughout town, this restaurant is a
Chennai landmark. The décor is frankly depressing but it is clean and the extremely high turnover of customers ensures that all food is fresh and very safe. The cheap prices and tasty hygienic food keep people coming back and the Ponnusamy Hotel has a very loyal customer base. This was, in fact, the first place one of our Indian friends took us when we first came to Chennai. Expect Thali lunches and typical chicken, but also delicacies like curried rabbit and crab. I might even remember to reserve a table this time so don’t miss it!
RSVP natalievh@gmx.net

Thursday, June 22, 2006

July Marketplace

2 very nice boy shirts: yellow and green - short sleeves all cotton.
size: 2 years
Brand: PomPom - bought in Singapore.
These shirts have never been worn.
Price: Rs200 each



Please contact Cathy Tiret at ctiret@sify.com

*************************************************************************************

Wooden Baby Bed

Size: App.129 x 73 cm, 110cm in height
One side slides down.
Mattress included.
In good condition.
Selling Price: 3,000 Rupees.
If interested, please contact Tasneem Saeed.
Cell no: 98408 33794

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Ania's Sale

In preparation for her move, Ania Dimants has the following to sell:

Expandable Metal baby gate Rs. 700
Lightweight booster seat, fits any dining chair, with tray Rs. 250
Umbrela style stroller clips, clips 2 stroller together Rs. 250
U.S. Canister vacuum with attatchments Rs. 750
these items available June 29th
Nokia cell phone Rs. 1,500
Alpina iron Rs. 1,000
5-kilo dumbbell weight set, for excerlcising with, set of 2 Rs. 300
Contact Ania 98410-87114

She also has a cook, a cleaner and a driver. All with very good references.
Needs the driver till the 30th of June.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Anglo-Indian Festival

OWC members are invited to take part in 'Anglo-Scapes: Journeys into the Anglo-Indian Community.' There will be a cookery demo on July 6th starting at 3pm at the
Connemara. Think Pork Vindaloo and Mulligatawny Soup! Yum! This is free of charge for OWC members but it is very important that you warn in by July 1st if you plan to come!
Please call Jo Frogbrook at 9840891824 or Natalie von Hoffmeister at 9884187761.

There will also be a jazz night on July 15th at the Music Acadamy led by acclaimed jazz musician Frank Dubier and his ensemble. Celebrated musicians from the Anglo-Indian community from India and abroad will be featured.
Tickets are priced at 500, 300, 200 and 100 rupees
Commencing 7.30 pm
Not to be missed, but again, warn in to Jo Frogbrook 9840891824 or Natalie von Hoffmeister 9884187761 by July 12th if you plan to attend!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Garage Sale

GARAGE SALE at Phil & Eunice Crooks house
10am Saturday 17th June
15 Bishop
Garden, R A Puram.

For sale books, household items, knick-knacks and ornaments