SAVING A BIRD

When I was living in Africa a bird came into my room one day. It was a small blue colored bird. It must have come in through the door which was open. I kept the door open and tried to get it to fly out but it was trying to fly out through the window. The window had a net with openings too small for the bird to go through. I thought it would hurt itself and decided to catch it but was not successful. I then removed the bed sheet and tried to throw it over the bird. After a few tries, I got the bird under the bed sheet. I could see where the bird was by its movement under the bed sheet. I caught the bird and removed the bed sheet. I took it outside and released it. As it flew away, I felt I had done something good and was happy.

A few months later, another bird came into our office. It was a small green colored bird. A local managed to catch it. I thought he would release it outside but was surprised to see him pull out a few of its larger feathers. He did not want it to fly away. He then placed it inside his locker and closed it. I asked him what he was going to do with it. He said ‘We will eat it’.

LOUIS PHILIPPE

Louis Philippe, Kollam

ACTORS

I can enjoy watching a movie and I like some of the actors. It takes a lot of people to make a movie. The producer has to rely on the writer, director, photographer, musician, stuntmen etc. too. All of them have to work together to produce a good movie. Actors are talented people but then so are the others who are involved and they don’t seem to get the same respect or credit that actors do. Actors have a director telling them how to act and if they don’t do it well, there is a retake. The director has to direct all the actors, while each actor appears only in the relevant scene. Stuntmen usually do the stunts and actors take the credit for that too. There are a few actors who are also involved in producing, directing, writing etc. They are exceptional people. Most actors only act.

Actors are usually very rich and have big egos. Their lives are very different from that of the common man but when it comes to issues concerning the common man some of them seem to think that their opinion matters more than that of the common man. I don’t understand why people get excited when they see an actor. They don’t get excited when they see the other people who are involved in making a movie.

THE RAYMOND SHOP

The Raymond Shop, Kollam

GINGER TEA

Ginger Tea improves digestion, reduces flatulence and belching.To make ginger tea, take a small piece of ginger and peel it. Cut a few thin slices and immerse it in water. Boil the water for a few minutes and strain it. Add milk and sugar if required.

The way I make it is slightly different and easier. I just cut one thin slice of ginger and remove the skin. I put it in a cup and pour some hot water into the cup and stir it. My ginger tea is ready. I find it to be effective and usually have it after breakfast.

QRS

QRS, Kollam

YOU DON'T CHOOSE YOUR RELIGION

My first job was with a Company manufacturing Electronic Instruments. I was working at their Regional Office in South India. All my colleagues were Hindus. One day, I was sitting with four of my colleagues at a cafe having some tea. One of them started talking badly about Christians. He did not realise that I was there. Suddenly, when he noticed that I was there, he tried to change the way he was speaking. He said ‘I like Christians; it is the priests that I don’t like. They are converting our people.’ At that time another colleague said ‘You don’t choose your religion. If you are born in a Christian family, you would be a Christian. If you are born in a Hindu family, you would be a Hindu. If you are born in a Muslim family, you would be Muslim.’ I felt what he said was right. Most people accept the religion their parents follow. Some may become sceptical as they grow older but very few people change their religion.