VBA Macro: Embed a table in the Lotus notes mail body and send mail

This code is a combination codes picked from different websites

Option Explicit

Sub Send_Row_Or_Rows_1()
' Don't forget to copy the function RangetoHTML in the module.
' Working in Office 2000-2010
    Dim OutApp As Object
    Dim Maildb As Object
    Dim Session As Object
    Dim MailDbName As String
    Dim UserName As String
    Dim OutMail As Object
    Dim rng As Range
    Dim Ash As Worksheet
    Dim Cws As Worksheet
    Dim Rcount As Long
    Dim Rnum As Long
    Dim FilterRange As Range
    Dim FieldNum As Integer
    Dim mailAddress As String
    Dim ccmailAddress As String
    Dim StrBody As String
    Dim StrBody1 As String
    Dim NRTItemBody As Object
    Dim body As Object
   
   
    Dim stream As Object
   

    On Error GoTo cleanup
    Set Session = CreateObject("Notes.NotesSession")
        UserName = Session.UserName
    MailDbName = Left$(UserName, 1) & Right$(UserName, (Len(UserName) - InStr(1, UserName, " "))) & ".nsf"
        Set Maildb = Session.GETDATABASE("", MailDbName)
   
    If Maildb.IsOpen = True Then
          'Already open for mail
     Else
         Maildb.OPENMAIL
     End If

    With Application
        .EnableEvents = False
        .ScreenUpdating = False
    End With
        Set Ash = ActiveSheet
StrBody = "Dear Sir " & "
" & _
              "Text" & "
" & _
              "Text" & "
"
    StrBody1 = "
" & _
    "Text" & "
" & _
       "Text" & "
"
   
    'Set filter range and filter column (Column with names)
    Set FilterRange = Ash.Range("A1:P" & Ash.Rows.Count)
    FieldNum = 1    'Filter column = A because the filter range start in A
    'Add a worksheet for the unique list and copy the unique list in A1
    Set Cws = Worksheets.Add
    FilterRange.Columns(FieldNum).AdvancedFilter _
            Action:=xlFilterCopy, _
            CopyToRange:=Cws.Range("A1"), _
            CriteriaRange:="", Unique:=True
    'Count of the unique values + the header cell
    Rcount = Application.WorksheetFunction.CountA(Cws.Columns(1))
    'If there are unique values start the loop
    If Rcount >= 2 Then
        For Rnum = 2 To Rcount
            'Filter the FilterRange on the FieldNum column
            FilterRange.AutoFilter Field:=FieldNum, _
                                   Criteria1:=Cws.Cells(Rnum, 1).Value
            'Look for the mail address in the MailInfo worksheet
            mailAddress = ""
            ccmailAddress = ""
            On Error Resume Next
            mailAddress = Application.WorksheetFunction. _
                          VLookup(Cws.Cells(Rnum, 1).Value, _
                                Worksheets("Mailinfo").Range("A1:B" & _
                                Worksheets("Mailinfo").Rows.Count), 2, False)
            ccmailAddress = Application.WorksheetFunction. _
                          VLookup(Cws.Cells(Rnum, 1).Value, _
                                Worksheets("Mailinfo").Range("A1:C" & _
                                Worksheets("Mailinfo").Rows.Count), 3, False)
                               
            On Error GoTo 0
            If mailAddress <> "" Then
                With Ash.AutoFilter.Range
                    On Error Resume Next
                    Set rng = .SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible)
                    On Error GoTo 0
                End With
               Set OutMail = Maildb.CREATEDOCUMENT
                On Error Resume Next
               
                OutMail.Form = "Memo"
                OutMail.sendto = mailAddress
                OutMail.CopyTo = ccmailAddress
                OutMail.Subject = "Action Items List"
               
                Set stream = Session.CreateStream
                Set body = OutMail.CreateMIMEEntity
                Call stream.WriteText(StrBody & RangetoHTML(rng) & StrBody1)
                Call body.SetContentFromText(stream, "text/html;charset=iso-8859-1", ENC_IDENTITY_7BIT)
               
                              
                OutMail.SAVEMESSAGEONSEND = True
               
                OutMail.PostedDate = Now() 'Gets the mail to appear in the sent items folder
                OutMail.SEND 0, mailAddress

                              On Error GoTo 0
                Set OutMail = Nothing
            End If
            'Close AutoFilter
            Ash.AutoFilterMode = False
        Next Rnum
    End If
cleanup:
    Set Session = Nothing
    Application.DisplayAlerts = False
    Cws.Delete
    Application.DisplayAlerts = True
    With Application
        .EnableEvents = True
        .ScreenUpdating = True
    End With
End Sub
Function RangetoHTML(rng As Range)
    Dim fso As Object
    Dim ts As Object
    Dim TempFile As String
    Dim TempWB As Workbook
    TempFile = Environ$("temp") & "/" & Format(Now, "dd-mm-yy h-mm-ss") & ".htm"
    'Copy the range and create a new workbook to past the data in
    rng.Copy
    Set TempWB = Workbooks.Add(1)
    With TempWB.Sheets(1)
        .Cells(1).PasteSpecial Paste:=8
        .Cells(1).PasteSpecial xlPasteValues, , False, False
        .Cells(1).PasteSpecial xlPasteFormats, , False, False
        .Cells(1).Select
        Application.CutCopyMode = False
        On Error Resume Next
        .DrawingObjects.Visible = True
        .DrawingObjects.Delete
        On Error GoTo 0
    End With
    'Publish the sheet to a htm file
    With TempWB.PublishObjects.Add( _
         SourceType:=xlSourceRange, _
         Filename:=TempFile, _
         Sheet:=TempWB.Sheets(1).Name, _
         Source:=TempWB.Sheets(1).UsedRange.Address, _
         HtmlType:=xlHtmlStatic)
        .Publish (True)
    End With
    'Read all data from the htm file into RangetoHTML
    Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
    Set ts = fso.GetFile(TempFile).OpenAsTextStream(1, -2)
    RangetoHTML = ts.ReadAll
    ts.Close
    RangetoHTML = Replace(RangetoHTML, "align=center x:publishsource=", _
                          "align=left x:publishsource=")
    'Close TempWB
    TempWB.Close savechanges:=False
    'Delete the htm file we used in this function
    Kill TempFile
    Set ts = Nothing
    Set fso = Nothing
    Set TempWB = Nothing
End Function

 

VBA Macro: Send active excel sheet using Lotus Notes

Send attachments through lotus notes

http://www.rondebruin.nl/

Things to change are mentioned in red italic

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

Option Explicit

 

Const EMBED_ATTACHMENT As Long = 1454

 

Const stPath As String = "c:\Attachments"

 

Const stSubject As String = "Weekly report"

 

Const vaMsg As Variant = "The weekly report as per agreement." & vbCrLf & _

                                          "Kind regards," & vbCrLf & _

                                           "Dennis"

 

Const vaCopyTo As Variant = "name@mail.com"

 

Sub Send_Active_Sheet()

 

  Dim stFileName As String

  Dim vaRecipients As Variant

 

  Dim noSession As Object

  Dim noDatabase As Object

  Dim noDocument As Object

  Dim noEmbedObject As Object

  Dim noAttachment As Object

  Dim stAttachment As String

 

  'Copy the active sheet to a new temporarily workbook.

  With ActiveSheet

    .Copy

    stFileName = .Range("A1").Value

  End With

 

  stAttachment = stPath & "\" & stFileName & ".xlsm"

 

  'Save and close the temporarily workbook.

  With ActiveWorkbook

    .SaveAs stAttachment

    .Close

  End With

 

  'Create the list of recipients.

  vaRecipients = VBA.Array("name1@mail.com", "name1@mail.com")

 

  'Instantiate the Lotus Notes COM's Objects.

  Set noSession = CreateObject("Notes.NotesSession")

  Set noDatabase = noSession.GETDATABASE("", "")

 

  'If Lotus Notes is not open then open the mail-part of it.

  If noDatabase.IsOpen = False Then noDatabase.OPENMAIL

 

  'Create the e-mail and the attachment.

  Set noDocument = noDatabase.CreateDocument

  Set noAttachment = noDocument.CreateRichTextItem("stAttachment")

  Set noEmbedObject = noAttachment.EmbedObject(EMBED_ATTACHMENT, "", stAttachment)

 

  'Add values to the created e-mail main properties.

  With noDocument

    .Form = "Memo"

    .SendTo = vaRecipients

    .CopyTo = vaCopyTo

    .Subject = stSubject

    .Body = vaMsg

    .SaveMessageOnSend = True

    .PostedDate = Now()

    .Send 0, vaRecipients

  End With

 

  'Delete the temporarily workbook.

  Kill stAttachment

 

  'Release objects from memory.

  Set noEmbedObject = Nothing

  Set noAttachment = Nothing

  Set noDocument = Nothing

  Set noDatabase = Nothing

  Set noSession = Nothing

 

  MsgBox "The e-mail has successfully been created and distributed", vbInformation

 

End Sub

 

Self Deception - hindrance to Progress

This post is about how we manage our perception towards others. The earlier post on 'Secret to project success' is about managing stakeholder perceptions. 

But managing our perception is the most fundamental. I realised this aspect when I read a book gifted by my friend - Radhika, with whom I share a good friendship, which actually grew in a very short duration. 

The book is 'Leadership and Self-Deception' from 'The Arbinger Istitute'. 

It talks about 'Self Betrayal', the key ingredient, which impacts our perception. The explanation on self betrayal is rather interesting. 

Self betrayal, is 

'when we don't do something which we feel we should do for others'

The consequence is that we justify ourselves for why we didn't do it and we start blaming the other person for who he has been, that made us not to do. When we start with blaming others and justifying ourselves, we unknowingly make the other person also to be like us. At the end, both of us don't help each other. 

This is a nice concept, and I have placed my life situations - personal and professional, in this behaviour and found it TRUE. 

How do we overcome this? The book emphasises mostly on how we get into this situation (Get into the box- as per the book). How we come out of this, is not discussed in detail in the book. But some explicit hints which come out are

'We should stop resisting others and do what we feel, we should do to them'.

Instead of this, if we want to try other methods like 1) being away from the situation, 2) changing others, 3) changing our behaviour, 4) trying to explain, etc., it will not work.

We need to work in not getting into the 'Self betrayal' mode. And being out of the self betrayal mode is definitely not overwhelming, compared to when we are in it - that's what the book says. 

I tried using this technique, consciously and found there is a difference. But it is not easy, and one need to apply it consciously, until it get into our subconscious mind.

http://devi-projectmanagement.blogspot.in/2012/08/overcoming-self-deception.html

‘What’ and ‘what not’ to delegate?

Are people reporting to you for the first time? First time project manager? First time supervisor? What a great feeling! But along with that feeling comes more responsibility, which is sometimes scary. You need to provide work to your subordinates, which are challenging and at the same time motivating. When your subordinates are fresh out of school, you need to coach them too. Natural mind-set of superiors is to load them to their maximum. This way, they feel that they are being a great supervisor. Sometime, they give them mundane activities, which they would not want to do it themselves. Sometimes they give them tasks that they are supposed to do, meeting with heads of other departments or companies. Sometimes, tasks are also delegated where the superior doesn't want to travel. The problem is even the supervisors are not aware, or not coached on what they should be handling and what should be delegated. Leave alone the first time supervisors, even experienced people heading big departments don’t know the art and purpose of delegation. Sometimes, the superiors don’t trust the sub-ordinates, and hence don’t delegate. In some cases, they feel better to do it themselves, than to delegate, explain and coach the sub-ordinate. Eventually, they end up doing all the work.

Even I faced with a challenge, when people started reporting to me for the first time. First time supervisors need to be trained on ‘delegation’. You need to delegate it right, not too less and not too much, and right job to the right person.

Recently I read an article on ‘PM Network’, by Nicola Hill, PMP, Thomson Reuters, London, England. She had described beautifully, the ‘Mind-set’ and the steps to be taken by supervisors while delegation, and 4 bullet points on the tasks that should never be delegated.

First on the Mind-set: Supervisors should focus on the ‘development needs’ of team members. “The decision on what to delegate ought to center on the development needs of team members” quotes Nicola Hill. She says that supervisors have to identify shining stars for delegating a particular task. But this was not very convincing to me. When you need to develop people by delegation, you need to concentrate on all your sub-ordinates. But have an assessment of the current strengths of your subordinates. The next steps given by Ms. Hill are quite good. You need to give tasks which build upon what he/she is already doing but added with a challenging component. You can also give him tasks in a completely new area. Both these should be incremental, otherwise, it can bring down the confidence of the sub-ordinate. You have to make sure why you are giving him/her the responsibility and make them understand it is a great opportunity to showcase their potential. Closely monitor, coach and help him/her to complete that particular task.

After you understood the expected mind-set while delegating and the steps to delegates, wouldn't it be better to have some clues on what to delegate and what not to delegate.

Ms. Hill says that tasks which can be done 70% (approx.) correctly compared to you, by your sub-ordinate can be delegated.  But apply the next clues on what not to delegate to the above task, to decide on whether it can be delegated. She gives 4 types of tasks which you should not delegate : 1) Tasks for which you are directly responsible, 2) Tasks that you would be unwilling to complete yourself, 3) Tasks that require a level of authorization that a team member does not possess, 4) Tasks for which the necessary tools are not available.

Isn't this a nice thought by Ms. Hill on delegation. This would be definitely useful for both supervisors! as well as for sub-ordinates J.

http://devi-projectmanagement.blogspot.in/2012/12/what-and-what-not-to-delegate.html

A cooking basic - late in my life!

I have seen people cooking vegetables, without water. It cooks so well and it so tasty. My husband is one of them and my mother in law.. My grandmother too.. I have seen them cooking and tried many times. Every time, I used to get some hint and try. But never really worked well. This time, I took another hint 'Fry onions well', until they become soft and translucent. FINALLY WORKED. This was the secret behind those delicious recipes. Instead of 'learning by seeing', I should have done the other way 'learning by questioning'. Probably, I would have learned it many years back.

Dreams

Do dreams come true? May or may not.. It doesn't matter... 

Many times they are weird.. Sometimes in real life, we feel that we have encountered such things before and when we think, we can link it to a previous dream we had. So dreams do come true!

Dreams belong to the individual and its theirs.. No one can take it away from anyone, unlike in real life.

Dreams take you through different emotions, happiness, sadness, love, friendship, fear, anger, etc.

People say it is an amalgamation of our own thoughts.. But what I went through in my dreams were very different.. It is something out of our normal thought process.. Most of the dreams, we forget; Very few we remember..

A lady appeared in my dreams, who I have met a year back, and I had never thought about her.. How and why such things happen? Sometimes we even get answers to our problems in our dreams. I have woken up in the morning happily with answers to my problems. 

Can you force something in your dream? Never. That's what my experience was.. I read somewhere that we can manipulate our dreams. But it has never happened to me.. May be there are techniques! 

But dreams happen out of the blue and they are never connected to what we go through the day, was my experience.. I heard from my daughter she had dreams since she was 3 years old.. She was even able to narrate what she saw in her dream.. Probably she even had dreams before 3, but was unable to communicate.. I was surprised. I don't remember when I started getting dreams and when I was able to narrate them..

Dreams have given me experiences, answers, which I would not have got from people around me in real life.. I think dreams make you stronger and wiser. Dreams are mine, whether they come true or not.. I need not get IPR for it.. They can never be taken away from anyone...

Shopping in Beijing

There are lots of shopping malls in Beijing. Visited 3 of them, i) Yashow market ii) Silk and Pearl Market iii) Tianyi wholesale supermarket. The third one was the best. The only issue in shopping at these markets are they quote very high prices, and you have to bargain to bring it down. The final price you settle, may also not be the best price. I am making a list of some of the things I bought and the prices I paid. I am not sure if I bargained better or got cheated??! This might be useful for people when they go shopping. This should be the starting price for bargaining… General rule is to start at 20% to 30% of what they quote..

A Play Date!

On a very busy day at office, I suddenly get an invite from someone I don’t know for a ‘play date’! Oh, the invite was not for me, but for my daughter from her friend’s mother. First reach of me – “What is a play date?” Where else to go, other than ‘Google’. Here are some few lines from Wikipedia for people who are ignorant like me.

“A play date or playdate is an arranged appointment for children to get together for a few hours to play. Playdates have become the standard for children of many western cultures because the work schedules for busy parents, along with media warnings about leaving children unattended, prevent the kind of play that children of other generations participated in. The intention of a playdate is to give children time to interact freely in a less structured environment than other planned activities might provide. Playdates are different from organized activities or scheduled sports, because they are not usually structured."

I even read through different sites to understand how it is arranged, what do the host do, what do we do, what should we carry? Finally called her friend's mother and fixed the day. Got a small gift for her friend, discussed the "Do's and Don't" with my kid. ALL SET TO GO! I was more excited in the 'play date' than my daughter. Finally we couldn't go, on the fixed date. 

Three weeks later, I called up her friend's mother again, and got the 'play date' fixed. The schedule of the D-day got aligned to accommodate the playdate time, "waking up-breakfast-lunch-sleep-snack". Me and my daughter reached her friend's home at the right time. I was happy to make new friends, with her friend's Mom and her aunt. We began with a light conversation, in getting to know each other. The kids (My daughter, her friend and her little cousin) started to play with the toys. There was 'sharing', 'grabbing' , 'complaining' between them. After a while, we were served some snacks and tea. They reached to point of getting bored in their games. So I called for my free car pick-up (by my husband). By the time, my husband could reach, their games started getting interesting again. My daughter was not willing to part with her friend and toys when her father called from the gate. Finally, managed to come out. 

On the kids's opinion on coming back together for playing,

My kid - " I don't want to come again. She is not sharing her toys"

Her Friend - "I don't want her to come. She is taking my toys"

Me and her friend's mother probably became good friends than these kids!

Got a feeling of completing a big ordeal - "PLAY DATE"

When I travel back in time, me and my brother would jump the compound and go to our friend's house to play. Our friends would also do the same. There was no formal invitation, and never felt embarrassing to go and disturb our friends as well as their families, at any time of the day. I also come from a small town, and this makes me realise that I am many generations behind!

Being Second!

Is being second a better option?

• Second rank in school
• Second position in industry
• Second best to your husband/wife after your kid
• and so many 'second's...

There are so many advantages in being second. You always want to improve, either move to first or lessen the gap to being first. There are the elements of strategy, politics, tactics in the second position, compared to any other positions. 

Contrary to the old school of thought, 'Be Number One' and 'Be the Leader', everybody wants to be the 'SECOND' nowadays. In this position, you enjoy all the benefits, similar to the first position, leaving out the troubles of the first position (constantly under watch, pressure to maintain the first position, ...)

Rain Cloud and the Small Bird!

Peacocks dance and cry seeing the rain clouds. Farmers also look for the rain clouds to appear. Each student looks for a rain cloud so that he can float paper boats, get a rain holiday, eat mother's garam pakodas. People in arid regions look upon the sky for a rain cloud. 

Like all, a small bird was expecting a rain cloud for a while. The rain cloud appeared a little far. The bird could see the cloud, but could not witness the rain. She felt very sad, that the rain cloud was near, but still far to touch. The bird flew away over the mountains, rivers, to a new place. The bird was happy here, that it need not feel that pain for the rain cloud, rather pretending that  there is no rain cloud.

Again on a bright and sunny day, the bird on its routine search for food, could see the rain cloud at a farther distance. The bird tried not to have any hopes that it would come closer, as it didn't want to feel that pain again. But this time, the rain cloud came and showered beautiful water drops on the bird. The bird has never ever felt such love, and it was wonderful. The bird felt that the rain cloud travelled so much for her.

The rain cloud disappeared from the place with a powerful pull of his dark grey robes. Poor bird couldn't understand that there are millions of people looking forward for the rain cloud and he didn't come for her alone. She understood that a little late, erased her memories of the rain cloud and began to live her life.

The rain cloud came again! She saw him and she flew fast to get rid of him, though her heart told her to stop. The rain cloud moved faster and came over her.

She could see that the rain cloud was just above her. He had pulled himself, his robes over to become like a small umbrella over the bird. The bird understood that he was here only for her, and the bird danced with her feathers in joy. Rain cloud was so happy to see her in joy and once again poured on her, his love in the form of beautiful rain drops.

The bird realised that the rain cloud was for her, but he had a more higher responsibility of taking care of so many people. She promised that she would wait for him to return, after he completes his responsibilities. But she doesn't know how long she should wait, it could be for days, months and years! She even enjoyed waiting, for she would think of the happy moments she had with him in the past. These moments would have got lost if he was always with her. The bird enjoyed waiting and enjoyed more on his return. The rain cloud would tell her the stories from different land, with her in his arms. She would stay for days in his arms, with just love and fresh air!

Its all about "Stealing"

"Stealing the moment"
"The stolen boat ride"

So many! but not considered as a theft..
I read somewhere that 'what' stealing is for people. It is only about stealing 'Money'.
The other things are ok with us... And everybody 'STEALS'

'The stolen boat ride' poem of William Wordsworth remains fresh in my mind, after 13 years of learning. I did a similar act, drove the car, without my husband knowing it.

'Stealing somebody else's moment' is one thing I would never do. But it kind of happened without me knowing, in a treat hosted by somebody else. And I still regret attending the treat till today.

How does it feel after the act of stealth? William Wordsworth describes it all in his autobiographical poem,

There in her mooring-place I left my bark,-- 

And through the meadows homeward went, in grave 

And serious mood; but after I had seen 

That spectacle, for many days, my brain 

Worked with a dim and undetermined sense 

Of unknown modes of being; o'er my thoughts 

There hung a darkness, call it solitude 

Or blank desertion. No familiar shapes 

Remained, no pleasant images of trees, 

Of sea or sky, no colours of green fields; 

But huge and mighty forms, that do not live 

Like living men, moved slowly through the mind 

By day, and were a trouble to my dreams.

SMS speaks...

Hi, This is the story of how I died. No, No, this is the story of my life. Once upon a time, .....No, No, Not that way. Ok..

I was born on 31st August 2012 out of a beautiful mobile. I was born out of happiness and sweet memories. My creator, 'Mia' gave me few seconds of her life, few moments of her happiness and her feelings. I was created very carefully. I still remember her happiness when she created me. She picked the receiver's name, 'Ryder' and clicked the send button. I was unwilling to go away from Mia and my mobile mother. But I will make them more happy if I performed my duty. I bid my mother and Mia 'Good bye' and went on my journey. I was carried by some powerful waves. It was a long journey indeed, passed through many towers. As an infant message, I was initially scared to see the outside world for the first time. But I saw millions like me travelling through the same journey. I comforted myself.

I heard stories from my fellow travellers, the stories of happines, love, agony, pain, panic... In those moments, I understood what Mia like people are undergoing in their lives. I got few friends on my way. But we couldn't share our thoughts for long, for our carriers were strong and we had to part ways. I finally reached the destination, 'Ryder'. I was waiting in his mobile for few hours before he opened. Then he read me. He was happy to see me, but he didn't reply. My life ended there. My life would have extended if he had resent me with his reply. But my portrait is still there with Ryder. I was lucky to be maintained atleast as a portrait.

On my journey, I heard stories that many fellow SMS like me would be killed and moved to trash even without being read, many had been opened with hatred and many had caused unhappiness to the receiver. I am happy that Mia was also happy when she sent me, and Ryder was also happy when he received me. I feel little sad for lovely Mia, that she doesn't know how Ryder felt on receiving me. If only I had been given extended life by Ryder, I would have told Mia his happiness, even if Ryder has not composed it that way!

Would somebody want to know who I am ?? I am similar to the messages you all create everyday. I was a special message from Mia to Ryder and I read 'I  love you!'.

Shruti - 3 years

Children become more naughtier each passing year, and also learn new things. Parents also learn a lot during the child's learning process. Shruti has now crossed 3 years.

Language differentiation:
She is able to tell some of the words in whatever language (currently 4 - English, Tamil, Bengali, Hindi) we ask. Children can learn lot of languages at this age!

Count Numbers:
She can count numbers, chocolates, pictures from 1 to 20. She has attained perfection in this. She can show the numbers using her fingers. She was trying with her fingers earlier and was difficult to maintain the particular set of fingers and now she can manage. Very cute! and you would want to ask her to show more numbers with her fingers.

Alphabets:
Thorough on her capital letters. Not so good with the small letters. Learning.

Household work:
She wants to help me in all the household work, whether it is cooking or cleaning. Yesterday she tried rolling a chapathi and actually did pretty well. But it doesn't stop till that. Playing more with that, and finally brought it back to the original ball shape :-(. She wants to do everything, clean the floor, clean vegetables, dry clothes. Hope she maintains this interest when she grows big so that I can share my work.

Memory Games:
I started playing games with cards, in identifying similar pairs when I was in second or third standard. I have seen my mother teaching Shruti the games with cards in identifying the pairs, when the cards are turned upside down. I didn't know she understood the concept. There is a similar game in laptop - purble place. Two days back, noticed that she could easily complete the beginner level on her own (5x5). She is yet to try the intermediate and the expert level. She can also easily navigate using the laptop touch pad.

Looks like i didn't learn much when I was three??!!

Learnt to make good paneer!

Always wanted to make paneer myself. I am very fond of soft and fresh paneers. Finally learnt it. Learnt it through Google. Wanted to share the way of making paneer - to get good compressed one so that you can cut beautiful cubes.

1. Boil milk
2. Squeeze lemon into it (avoided vinegar - as advised by my husband!)
3. The water separates out
4. Take a clean white cloth and drain the paneer in it
5. Remove the water completely
6. Make the paneer into a flat rectange, by shaping the cloth
7. Now you have to keep heavy weights on top
8. I placed a cooker (clean one) with water on top of the cloth
9. Kept it for around 5 hours
10. Nice compressed soft paneer is ready
11. And you can cut it into nice cubes

And after which I made a paneer dish - a simple one with onions, tomatoes, garlic, coriander leaves.
I think it was good.

Satisfied a long desire of making paneer.

Pune - Polkas and Palkhis

I am here in Pune,

• a city very less denser than Chennai, 
• roads designed to ferry traffic for the next 5 years or more,
• a weather, in which people like to holiday, 
• mixed culture, where you feel you belong to the crowd here,
• happy young working population, 
• time for the family, even for the working couples,
• long daylight, to enjoy the extended evenings,
• community living - flats, flats and only flats,
• retired old men and women, who gossip from 6am to 11pm,
• even the outskirts of the city is well developed,
• more military campuses and their smart officers,
• buses which never stop in the bus stops,
• buses which stop, stop only for few seconds,
• autos which stop 200m away from the place where you stood and waved your hand,
• crowd who shops at star bazaar and big bazaar at 9 am sunday morning

Another thing which caught my attention - "White shirt with polka dots"

The girls who ride two wheeler here have a uniform - "white shirt with polka dots". The colour of the dots vary from girl to girl, but rarely identifiable. An 'undeclared' uniform, but 90% of the girls adhere to - very amazing! Generally, it is difficult to lay some rules and follow, and here all girls follow the two wheeler dress code! They don't wear helmets though! Even few female pillion riders wear this shirt. Why is that, this is popular among girls here? I am yet to find an answer. 

 

Next interesting occasion was the Palkhi to Pandharpur. Around 4 lakh people walk around 400 km during the journey split into two groups - Sant Tukaram palkhi and Sant Dhyaneshwar Palkhi. They recite prayers and sing songs on their way. During their journey, other people offer food and snacks to them. There are sometimes, strong fights while collecting food and snacks. Some groups, take along with them a set of people to cook food and feed them. The cooks and the food items are transported by vehicles and these vehicles run slowing along with the people who are walking. Traffic is blocked at different places during these days. I had an opportunity to see around the city, when i was travelling with my colleagues to office, during one of these days, since our normal travel route was blocked.

 

Hmm, I need to know a lot more about this place!