Our Old House.
[If anybody wants to see our old house read on. This was my reply posted on Asia Forum a few days ago in response to one Worswick's posts]
Of 'hurricane lamps' and thatched roof.
Worswick:
Since you are always too serious about things allow me to express some views from the other side.
Electriciy.
I distinctly remember not having any electricity when I was growing up and I don't think it was all that bad like you make it out to be,actually I kinda liked the whole ritual of cleaning the lamps of various shapes and sizes and filling them with kerosene oil in the evening. I even remember helping my grandma's maids with the daily chore at least occasionally.It did not hinder our education or the 'quality' of life. Oh sure we couldn't watch any Opra,Jerry Springer or anything like that but hey we did all right.
Shingles Vs thatched roof.
We also had thatched roof which had to be replaced every year.Thatching the roof was an annual 'festival' of sorts which took some 8-10 men all day.At sun set my grandma prepared this elaborate feast and invite all the neighbors and field hands to this dinner,it was party time in the evening. Even though roof tiles were available
my grand father wouldn't allow my dad to replace the roof with the tiles as he was the of the opinion that thatched roof was better than tiles and he wouldn't have none that 'modern' stuff like 'tiles' and 'electricity' etc.Grandpa said thatched roof with 6 inch carved wooden ceiling is better than any old shingles.
Water-Public water supply vs private.
Even now we don't use the public water supply [I am not talking about Texas-<gg>] as we have this enormous well which gives our house plenty of crystal clear water year around.The only modern amenity that was added some 20 years ago or was so a water pump which is used to pump the water into an overhead tank for internal plumbing etc.Before then we used a pulley,rope and pail to bring the water up and store it for the daily use and us kids helped the household 'helps' with this as well,talk about good exercise.There was also an annual ritual associated with this well.During summer time about 4 or 5 men would have to climb down the 10-15 circular rings around the well and stand neck deep in cold water and empty the well and replace the some sort of medicinal wooden planks that was laid across the circular bottom of the well which I would think is about 100 feet down from the ground level.It took them from sun up to sun set to do this trick,of course there is a dinner party associated with it at the end of the day and the workers and the neighbors are always on the guest list.Well now they use some submersible pump to do all this.
Now y'all might think this was some sort of primitive living,well so be it but I must warn you some of us wouldn't agree.<gg>
'Rouge states'-India,Iran and Indonesia.
I read with fascination the report you posted earlier about the impending or possible problems that might arise in the strait of Hormuz, the Indian Ocean and strait of Malacca. I don't know about the other two countries in the list but I very much doubt there will be any possible problems in the Indian ocean,unless of course provoked. I don't think India has a history of aggression let alone blocking shipping channels.
Gandhian Philosophy.
Well,for one thing it only works if your adversary is equally capable of reasoning if not it is a nice concept but costs too much time,too many men and grief and besides who can take all that humiliation.
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