Twenty- five Seven

Do you need to buy a watch winder? # a to z challenge

April 27, 2016

Today is W for Watchwinder

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What on earth is a watch winder?

Well,

A watch winder is a device which holds a watch (or often more than one) and moves it in a circular patterns to emulate the necessary parts of human motion to operate the self-winding mechanism.

I myself was quite unaware that there was something like a watch winder till I acquired one last year.

It all started when I spotted my grandson shaking both his hands one day. I asked him what on earth he was doing and he replied ” Tick-tock, Abu do.”

For a moment I was perplexed when I realised that he was indeed copying his grandfather who wore both his automatic watches over the weekend and wound them by shaking his wrists.

There had to be a better way to wind watches, I thought, and sure enough discovered that you could get a mechanical watch winder to do the job for you.

The hunt for the watch winder

Thereafter we began looking for watch winders, looking around on the internet, asking around at stores selling watches and even horlogers. Finally, after six months we found the perfect one made by a Singapore based manufacturer – Orient Crown.

Needless to say, the two watches contently spin around and my grandson has stopped shaking his wrists with the imaginary ‘tick tocks’!
Why is this vase hidden in a bookshelf? #a to z challenge

April 26, 2016

Today I talk about a very ordinary vase with an extraordinary past.

Do visit the A to Z Challenge posts on Facebook.

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By now you must have figured that we are great collectors of stuff in our home : we collect souvenirs, mementos, items of value and just junk! One thing that has baffled me is why an ordinary ceramic vase that should have been occupying pride of place as War Booty should be kept in an inconspicuous place in a bookshelf that is really used only to store books. But one day, when my father-in-law who originally brought it home, explained its true significance: this vase was from a battle in which General Musharraf had fought as a young subaltern. It had a value that went beyond its material worth.

The vase in the bookshelf

That is the reason why the vase is kept out of the reach of children who are likely to knock it down with a stray ball or a deliberate hit. Every time a visitor comes home, it is brought out and displayed , the story re-told with obvious pride and after the ooohs and aaaahs of appreciation, kept back in the shelf.

There is nothing extraordinary about this ceramic vase, slightly chipped on one side. But for us it transcends the mere ordinary, symbolising valour and courage in a battle to defend our country.
How to avoid an upturned umbrella #atoz challenge

April 25, 2016

With the sun beating down on us and rain clouds gathering it is time for me to bring out my Umbrella .This is my post for the the theme ‘Things around My House’ .

Do visit the A to Z Challenge posts on Facebook

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U for Umbrella is so typically predictable and with every person having one, what’s different about mine?

Well, it is a universal fact that rain makes you wet. It is also a universal fact that monsoon rains with their strong winds render an umbrella useless. Over the years I’ve had many umbrellas backwards (or even blown away )leaving me soaking wet and looking foolish trying to hold it down.

How to avoid an upturned umbrella

The simplest solution would be to stay at home when it rains but with the monsoons stretching for 2-3 months, it is now always possible.

So I did the next best thing – got one that doesn’t fly off or invert completely when confronted with a strong wind.

Here’s my original SENZ storm umbrella that can withstand the monsoon winds. And even though I’ve not photographed it open, I can assure you that it has seen many monsoons and left me dry while walking down the sea front in the rains.

The umbrella designed by Dutch engineers withstands strong and has proved to be effective in our Mumbai weather.

Never mind if you look like a witch with this strange looking black contraption. Equip yourself with a SENZ, this coming monsoon and enjoy your walks in the rain!

This video shows how the SENZ is perfect for our stormy monsoon winds.