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| "Diamond Jubilee " retirement birthday on Wednesday(11/3/12020) |
Normally it was a accepted fact among the "WORKING CLASSES" in India of my parent's generation and previous generations that on attaining the age of 60 years there would be a grand retirement office /factory party along with retirement benefit funds and a presentation gift from co-workers/staff of the company.A few of my generation holding Government job's were lucky to have a grand retirement farewell along with monetary benefits at age 60 years.The Shipping Industry which i prematurely retired from at the age of 46 years for personal reasons does not have any retirement benefits for its floating staff ( Sailing Staff ) but some companies do have the same for it's shore based office staff.In the International shipping Industry the retirement age is 65 years for the sailing staff provided fit enough to sail with fitness qualification tests being stringent.
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| Birthday boy Rudolph with maternal cousin Stephen. D'silva. |
Post retirement from the "SHIPPING INDUSTRY" in 2006 i became a self-made entrepreneur earning a comfortable living as a "BACHELOR" through investments in the financial sector. At last i was my own proprietor and managing my own portfolio with a little help from banking portfolio consultants .Honestly, i was better than most of these highly paid "Banking Portfolio consultants" as on more than 2 occasions they gave me wrong advice on investment decisions which my "GAMBLING INTUITION" made me veto the same .Little did i visualize that a hobby in study of Stock market's as a "Marine Engineering Apprentice " student in Mazagon Dock Ltd would ultimately make me reasonably wealthy post a premature retirement from shipping employment.The "GAMBLER" in me had shrewdly accumulated a decent "Blue Chip" portfolio over the decades also making some Himalayan blunders in the process,very normal in long run businesses , but definitely more profit's than losses.On "FACEBOOK" innovated the gambling sports game titled "MITTOO ALIAS MITTOO THE POPPAT" in memory of late 22 year old Alexandrine parakeet "Mittoo" which is a unbelievable roaring success.My intention is for the Government to legalize "SPORTS BETTING" in India most notably "CRICKET BETTING" which at present is a multi crore illegal betting industry.
In January 2020 on my arrival from a travel tour across Laos i was on top of Mt Everest sitting on a Investment portfolio worth Rs 2,93,38,000 only A mind boggling sum for a bachelor from a "Middle-Class" background and a working class parent with no "Godfather's or Godmother's". Was living the "Michael Jackson Lifestyle" of a ultra high net individual rather than a ordinary Crorepati " with my two cats as dependents and house-keeper Ms Sabina .Dias as a employee since 16 years. . Having traveled across 81 country's and almost entire India was anxious to celebrate my "Diamond Jubilee Birthday" on Wednesday(11/3/1960) announcing my own retirement from my own single owner investment company, a la mini Warren.Buffet or Rakesh.Jhunjhunwala. Always think "BIG" has been my motto in life and living and hence if aiming for the stars you can at least land on the moon ! Paternal cousin Mr Charles.Martin.Furtado, a entrepreneur himself was pestering me for a grand 60th birthday party since the last two years.In my small family we had celebrated only my "Engagement Party" publicly in 1989 which ended in a colossal epic break-up and since then i have hosted only the "Death Formality ritual dinners " of both my parent's .Hence i decided to hold a grand 60th Diamond jubilee birthday party for relatives and a few friends. Definitely my last birthday party as i hate celebrating "Birthday Party's".My personal opinion is that every "Birthday " year reminds a individual of his or her own mortality towards the inevitable journey to the grave.Age is just a number and let it always be a number as far as chronological and physical ageing of the human physiology is concerned. Hence i observed a odd custom of never wishing anyone on their birthday ! Call me eccentric and i have stated my reason .
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Seated right side:- Mrs Flossy. Furtado ,Baby Kareena.Furtado, Mrs Rolin Furtado
Seated Left Side :- Mrs Cycnthia. Lewis, Mr Stephen. D'silva. |
It's a proverb that "Man proposes but God disposes" and ironically a series of catastrophic events led to me totally cancelling plans for a grand 60 Years Diamond retirement jubilee birthday celebrations.On Sunday 16 February met with a almost fatal motorcycle accident while returning from Junnar which beside's damaging my "Royal Enfield Bullet-350" left me with a hairline fracture on the left shoulder "Ball-Socket joint".Got myself examined at "Holy Family Hospital" and was under treatment by Orthopedic Surgeon Mr Dylan.Govaes.Fortunately the damage to my shoulder was not severe but recovery would take more than a month. Adding to the physical pain was the spread of the "Coronavirus" epidemic in Wuhan in China which tanked the World economic markets.
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| Best of Mangalorean/Goan cuisine with drinks. |
With the "Coronavirus" pandemic finally spreading into Europe, America and Asia the "Stock Markets" across the globe collapsed like a pack of card's .On Friday(13/3/2020) my portfolio value stood at Rs 2,18,24,00 a wipe-out of Rs 75,14,000 in portfolio value in just 2 months .Akin to Laos being the World's most bombed country during the Vietnam war seems i had also achieved a dubious distinction of suffering a dual casualty of a motorcycle accident and a "Limca Book of Records" portfolio loss in the shortest time frame. Ahoy ! Normally the media quotes the wealth loss of Billionaire Industrialists and by quoting my personal losses i have portrayed the plight and unpredictable life of the average "Stock Market Entrepreneur".I will never forget these immortal words from a stock market analyst on T.V , quote " THE STOCK MARKET IS THE TOUGHEST PLACE TO EARN EASY MONEY " . Ahoy !
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| After ages we family members met on a occasion. |
On my birthday on Wednesday(11/3/2020) i did have a small lunch get-together at my residence thanks to a last minute arrangement by Mrs Rolin.Furtado, cousin Ajay.Furtado's wife.She is a professional MC at Christian weddings/ birthday party's and even hotel New year bashes.A talented speaker for party's reminding me of Television hostess Sabira.Merchant of "Whats the Good word". She had informed me a few day's earlier that they would be paying me a sick visit on my birthday along with food preparations. I rang up cousin Mr Charles (Martin).Furtado, the cousin who put the grand 60 year jubilee party into my memory bank but bizarrely he was sick and couldn't attend the same.So finally on Wednesday(11/3/2020) instead of a grand "Diamond Jubilee birthday Celebration" it was a small picnic at home. Aunt Flossy.Furtado, Mrs Rolin.Furtado and her young daughter Kareena.Furtado along with cousins Mrs Cynthia.Lewis and Mr Stephen.D'silva arrived at my residence with home cooked food and gifts.
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| 60 Years Diamond Jubilee Birthday . With Mr Stephen.D'Silva and Queen cat "Matahari" :- Among all my relatives have mingled most with cousins Mr Stephen.D'silva and Mr Charles.Martin. Furtado since childhood day's of spending occasional school holiday's in parent's ancestral villages of Barkur and Mabukala in Udipi district of Karnataka. |
I myself had cooked the best of sea food and Pork Vindaloo with house care-taker of 16 years Ms Sabina.Dias being the house chef.Now i only hope that my " INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO " gets employed by paying me dividends in the future once the Corona Virus epidemic dies a natural death and the Indian economy picks up momentum. No shipping company would hire me post 60 years of age having a handicapped left eye vision , a la late cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. or footballer Gordan.Banks .The question is whether this economic recovery will take a few years or a decade as at age 60 time and the tides is definitely not on my side .
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| My signature mode of transport within Prabhadevi- Mahim -Sir Pochkhanawala road for purchasing food products as well as exercising during the 7 months of "Coronavirus Pandemic Travel Lockdown" . "CYCLE" was my mule . Ahoy ! "CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN -2020 " |
Worse was to follow two weeks after my "RETIREMENT BIRTHDAY" when on Tuesday(24/3/2020) Prime Minister Narendra.Modi overnight declared a "NATIONAL LOCKDOWN" with the entire Country Industrial production and transport system coming to a halt.The reality of "CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC (COVID 19)" had finally hit home and was no more a distant pandemic in the news that was devastating mostly wealthy "First World " nations of Europe and America. Overnight India was transformed and i was shocked to see the tragedy unfold due to the overnight total stoppage of "INDIA Inc".Barring essential transport services ,air,rail and road traffic for the common public came to a abrupt halt within 4 hours of the "COVID-19 LOCKDOWN" broadcast by the Prime Minister.
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A Unbelievable sight outside one of the most congested traffic roads in Mumbai outside landmark "Siddhivinayak Temple" in Prabhadevi.A total lockdown of street traffic gives this mongrel the pleasure of snoozing right in the middle of the road.This is a "Collector item photo" as Mumbai city might not witness such a sight in the near or distant future. One for the history books.
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Worst effected due to the "LOCKDOWN" were the workers/entrepreneurs from villages who migrated to the big city's for employment or starting petty businesses.As business came to a standstill so also did transport and hence a scene not witnessed since the partition of India in 1947 was witnessed in March 2020 .The only difference being that economically backward Indians were migrating from their locales of employment in various parts of India to their own villages or city's within India.A mass internal migration by lower Income Indians unable to support themselves without a steady income or a permanant house dwelling.Unlike "First World" country's India has no social security system and although the State Governments did distribute free rations and food to some of these now homeless people it was not sufficient in comparison to the population of the second most populated country on Planet Earth.Numerous migrants lost their lives in road accidents while undergoing epic journeys of walking hundreds or even a thousand Kms to their hometown.Later newspaper reports in September put the internal migration within India into a crore of people but could not put a actual number to the number of lives lost during this tragic forced migration.The "Work-From-Home" culture was born overnight as the educated literate Indians employed with reputed companies or proprietors of companies worked from home with their laptops and a Internet connection, something i was doing from 2006 as a self employed "Investor" after quitting "Merchant Navy" employment.
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| A glimpse of Shivaji Park ground on a Saturday evening , a unbelievable sight. Totally empty during the Coronavirus Pandemic Lockdown in Mumbai. |
As for me confinement to the house was no novelty but the fact that i couldn't travel beyond the boundary of our building locality made life boring. Housecaretaker Ms Sabina.Dias and myself spent 2 months confined to our building with me making approximately 2 cycle rides/week to the market to purchase food items, especially non-vegetarian meat/fish proucts for cats "Matahari" and "Matata" as unlike dogs cats can't survive on a total vegetarian diet.Only a few essential shops would be open for a few hours while meat consisted of only chicken as the slaughter houses were closed.
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| Both my cats "Matahari(White Colour) on table and "Matata(Brown Colour) on my chair were excellent companions during "COVID-19 LOCKDOWN".Was devastated on the abrupt death of 13 year od "Matahari" on Saturday(22/8/2020) |
.I had literally ballooned in weight as my normal 2 Kms + daily swimming exercises had stopped and now exercise was just a daily one hour walk around my building compound.Adding misery to my fitness distress was the fact that my motorcycle accident left arm fracture refused to heal completely and i was resigned to the fact that a niggling left arm pain would follow me throughout my life. At 60 years i was no "Spring Chicken" although my attitude towards life and living was akin to a teenager. To quote one of my favourite sportsmen late boxer Muhammed.Ali(Cassius Clay) on his decision to retire from boxing, quote, "I am at a stage in my life where the mind say's Yes but the body say's No". At 60 year's of age my body biological network was being slow in healing wounds as was this left arm fracture in a accident that makes me still ponder on luck,destiny and miracles.
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On Wednesday(15/7/2020) "RELIANCE INDUSTRY" held its 43rd A.G.M through "Video conferencing". First.First time in my life attended a "AGM" through video conferencing.
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During this "INDIA LOCKDOWN" akin to a miracle "Reliance Industry" under the Mukesh.Ambani flagship overnight became the talk and investment of Global World household name companies with it's share price literally spiralling into outer orbit from the earth's stratosphere. From it's low of Rs 916 on 23/3/2020 at the peak of the "Covid-19 Economic Apocalypse" in India and the Globe the share price increased in leaps and bounds , a thriller of Stock market trade.I was a "Whale Investor" in "RELIANCE INDUSTRY" and with the company issuing a "RIGHTS ISSUE" during the "LOCKDOWN" suddenly realized i had upgraded my status to the elite. Quickly reshuffled my portfolio by selling loss making mutual funds and increasing my
"Whale Investment".Sadly as well as happily for the first time in my life the "Covid-19 India Lockdown" made me realize the fact that i belonged to the upper crust of Indian society not for accumulating a "HNWI(Hight Net Worth INDIVIDUAL )" bank account but for the simple reason of just being alive, having a house and not thinking about the source of payment for my next meal or the house upkeep. At the young age of 60 years i learnt to appreciate the simple pleasures of life and living rather than cash accumulation in a never ending human rat race. Ahoy!
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| Tomcat "Matata" sad and brooding after the abrupt death of his companion since birth. "Queen cat Matahari". Her permanant seat on the gallery window ledge was now a frequent perch for the crow. |
With banks closed entire buying/selling and purchase of "Rights Issue" was through the "Digital Mode" a revolution ushered onto the World and India due to "Covid -19" pandemic .The quote
"When God closes one door he opens another door" perfectly summed my monetary fortunes post premature retirement from the stable job of a "Marine Engineer" in the "Merchant Navy".I couldn't ask for anything better in the transformation of professions from " Employee Marine Engineer" to "Proprietor Investor". A hobby in "INVESTMENTS" had made me a "Kaun Banega Crorepati" alumni. Ahoy !Gradually over the months the " Mumbai Covid-19 Lockdown" eased although the infections kept on spreading across the Country at a alarming rate but thankfully the death rate was low in India unlike U.S.A, Europe and Latin America in comparison to the country's population.My regular exercise was now a daily regime of alternate day cycling from Old Prabhadevi Road to Shivaji Park doing 5 cycling rounds on the periphery road of this gigantic park and the next day from Old Prabhadevi Road to Sir Pochkhanawalla road(Worli Hill) and back to home.A major tragedy to strike me was the sudden death of my non-human companion of 13 years "Queen Cat Matahari".Without any major illness symptoms she suddenly refused food one day before her abrupt collapse and death on Saturday(22/8/2020).This loss devastated me akin to losing a human member in my family."Covid-19" had not infected my human household but had taken away one of my most prized and loved possessions.Her biography can be read on the link :- https://persiancatsmatahari.blogspot.com/ .
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A motorcycle ride to visit "Mount Mary Church" in Bandra.
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Finally on Monday (7/9/2020)Shops were opened and bus services as well as private vehicle traffic restored although the lifeline of Mumbai city, the "Railway network" was yet to swing into action for commuting of the masses although skeletal services were in place for workers linked to the "Covid-19" medical task force and essential Govt and city employees.Places of religious worship, gymnasiums ,public functions of more than 100 people in attendance and swimming pools were not allowed to open and i was aghast on seeing myself resembling a sumo wrestler rather than the wiry middle distance athlete of my youth. Ahoy !
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Mount Mary Church in Bandra. This was the second time in its 350 years history that the annual "Bandra Fair" had been cancelled due to "Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid -19)" with the first time being during the."1895 Bombay Plague" .
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Tuesday(8/9/2020) is the birthday of Mother Mary and the occasion is celebrated in the holding of the annual week long "Bandra Fair" in Bandra in Mumbai. After almost 7 months rode my motorcycle from Prabhadevi to Mt Mary Basilica Church in Bandra to pay homage on the Birthday of Mother Mary.This is the second time in its 350 years history that the annual "Bandra Fair" has been cancelled due to "Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid -19)" with the first time being during the."1895 Bombay Plague" .The Church was closed but pilgrims and worshipers were allowed to pray from the street facing the church as also offer alms and offering. That i was alive and even capable to ride my heavy duty "Bullet 350 CC" motorcycle after the Sunday(16/2/2020) crash was a miracle of survival although that was my 3rd motorcycle hospitalization. This year the famed annual "BANDRA FAIR" held within a 2 Kms radius from Mt Mary Basilica was to be held from Sunday(13/9/2020) to Sunday(20/9/2020).
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A photo-shoot at the "Sea Harrier Aircraft" display at Bandstand in Bandra.
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After offering alms at the entrance gate of the church rode down the hill through bandstand and was amazed to come across the "SEA HARRIER AIRCRAFT" displayed at the Bandstand which was last utilized on "I.N.S Viraat".During my apprenticeship years in Mazagon Docks had been on the "I.N.S Vikrant" and later in my career sailed with a ex-Naval captain who had flown this aircraft when based on "I.N.S Vikrant". Aircraft pilots can change over to the profession of Naval navigation after a course .Life had come a full circle and after a few photograph's rode back home.
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At the main entrance gate of the oldest fishing dock in Mumbai :- "SASSOON DOCK(1875)"
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REDISCOVERING MUMBAI'S FISH DOCKS :- Motorcycle fishing expeditions to SASSOON DOCK in Colaba and FERRY WHARF( BHAUCHA DHAKKA) DOCK in Mazagaon. |
At the "Sassoon Docks" on a sightseeing as well as fish marketing expedition.
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As Highway cruising is out of bounds decided to do a early morning ride on my "Bullet 350 cc" to Mumbai's biggest fishing docks, Sassoon Docks. Have visited Sassoon Docks a few times as fish markets and fish wharfs are my fascination in India as well as on Global travels. Once also made a amateur documentary on the auction of fish at this landmark fishing docks of Mumbai. Today i was surprised on seeing the entire docks wharf and market place crowded with fish mongers selling or buying fish with me being the rare local fishing tourist. The definition of "SOCIAL DISTANCING" went for a sixer and seems at least in Sassoon Docks we Mumbaikars have achieved "Covid-19 Herd Immunity". Observed a large gigantic fish being auctioned with the starting price bring Rs 6000.Also spotted to large Marlin type fish ,something rarely seen in my locality fish markets in Worli and Agar Bazaar. Also got a chance opportunity at "Bird Watching" getting a sight of a pair of Egrets stealing fish . Rode back home and lunch was "White Pomfret/Coconut Curry/Rice ".Ahoy ! With long distance motorcycling not a possibility due to most hotels and resorts being shut due to "COVID -19 " Lockdown did the early morning 13 Kms ride from Old Prabhadevi Road to Sassoon Dock and back home.
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Refueling my bike before a "Fish Marketing" ride during "Coronavirus Pandemic Lockdown".Travel outside the city was not permitted .
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Sunday(4/10/2020) was a freak day with a slight drizzle having rained heavily in the night, total freak Mumbai weather for the month of October. Climate Change ? On my way bunkered at the landmark "Worli Naka Petrol pump" and was the first customer of the day. For the first time in my life saw the petrol pump attendants "Sounding" the underground petrol tank bringing back memories of my employment on merchant Navy ships over the decades. After "Bunkering" my motorcycle tank made the ride to landmark "Sassoon Dock" which had traffic congestion inside the docks. Was lucky to find parking place for my motorcycle and this being my second visit within a week's span to the docks after a gap of 9 long years seems the "Coronavirus Pandemic" is not existent in this locale of Mumbai. Yes it seems the average seamen and average fisher- folk are a very different sturdy breed of the human species with high "Immunity Levels" otherwise what i have witnessed at this fishing docks would be thesis out of medical study . Ahoy ! Finally purchased some fish and rode back home .So far so good and have discovered a new "Riding Route" within congested Mumbai city. Have now made it a habit to bike to "SASSOON DOCKS" early mornings on either a Sunday,Wednesday or Friday to buy fish straight from the source. Wonder if my fishing and adventure hero Mr Jeremy Wade(Animal Planet/Biologist /Fishing detective) has ever visited iconic "Sassoon Dock" in search of a "SEA MONSTER". In "SASSOON DOCK" who is afraid of "COVID-19" monster ?
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"Fish Marketing" at the waterfront of "Bhaucha Dhakka(Ferry Wharf)" in Mazagon.
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"Necessity is the mother of invention" is very true and if not for the confinement at home would never have thought of motorcycling to Mumbai's landmark fishing wharf's just to purchase fish. AS a big fan of British television presenter Mr Jeremy Wade of "River Monsters" on "Animal Planet" true life investigations have taken up the hobby of visiting the whole sale fish wharfs as Bombay now Mumbai's basic foundation was as a fishing village. Having explored "Sassoon Docks" fish market decided to ride before daybreak to my old adda "Bhaucha Dhakka(Ferry Wharf)" situated at Mazagaon in close proximity to "Mazagon Dock Ltd" shipyard where i did my 4 years "Marine Engineer Apprenticeship course".
