Tuesday 14 April 2020

Lockdown Is ...

"How did Ghumakkad the wanderer survive being locked down?"
"No hiking, no travelling, no golfing, no swimming?"
"No safari in Wildlife Parks?"
 "Didn't you feel stifled?"

These questions and more came from many friends. Yes, Ghumakkad also followed the 'stay home stay safe' dictum like all of you. However, Ghumakkad managed to live the lockdown in an enjoyable manner. Free of anxiety, tension and boredom. How? Read on.

This post is a series of pictures and videos with the theme 'Lockdown is ...". All shot during last three weeks in the confines of our home in Secunderabad India. Many of you did much more during the lockdown. Feel free to share a picture or two of your activities. We will keep appending to this story.

Lockdown Is ...
Feeling the adrenaline when a 90-year old applauds the Corona Warriors.

You can see my mother-in-law using her puja bell to applaud the Corona Warriors in the short video clip below.

Gardening and its thrills









Learning to Cook




Teaching On-line
Ghumakkad conducted online classes for his PGDM students during the lockdown. It was a great experience. A glimpse.

Old Pastimes

The next thing to do was connect online. Online tambola became a regular affair at 10 AM IST to suit both India and US time zones.


Ansh, our eldest grandson who is learning to play piano shared his recent piece. Enjoy the short video recorded during the lockdown. He is so humble that he doesn't want the camera on himself!

Like all Fauzis, we love our shoes! See the picture below.


Power of a Flower







Eating Grapes

Telangana Govt Initative

Super Moon

Wild Grass




Home Birding
We are blessed to have many species in our enclave. Sitting in our verandah, we could see Purple Sunbirds, Golden Oriole, Indian Robin, Ashy Prinia, Red Vented Bulbuls, Asian Koel, Spotted Dove, Silverbill Munia, Scaly Breasted Munia, Bea Eaters, Black Drongo, White Browed Wagtail and few more. However, am not including the pictures to avoid clutter. Instead am sharing two video clips. The first clip is the musical call of a Golden Oriole.

The next clip of just 4 seconds is of an Indian Robin who had nested in our bird house in the verandah.

You may browse our earlier story by clicking the link 'Friendly Munias'.

Golf Chipping

For my golfing buddies, here is a short video clip of chipping practice at home.

Earth is Healing

Hope this story helped you to beat the lockdown boredom. Do share your pictures to add to the story.

When will Ghumakkad get back to the Golf course to enjoy the magical dawn?

Or, when will we see a movie in our open air theatre at RSI again?

All we can say, it will happen soon!
Together we shall overcome and emerge stronger.
Stay home and stay safe.
Enjoy the lockdown like we did.

Special thanks to Neeta for taking my pictures and to all the friends who had gifted plants which continue to thrive in our small garden. Grateful indeed.

Thanks for browsing

     - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/15th April 2020
#lockdown #coronavirus #beattheboredom #stayhomestaysafe #enjoythelockdown #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #homebirding #gardening #wildflowers #wildgrass #cooking #homegrownveggies #golfchippingathome #earthishealing #plantsarebestgifts

28 comments:

  1. Wonderful way of fruitfully utilizing the lock down period. Very inspiring.

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    1. Thanks much Debu. Have to keep away from the media overload on TV and WA🙏

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  2. I so enjoyed reading, seeing and hearing this post of yours....Im a tad jealous of your garden and your access to it.... Simply loved the post Harsh...You are doing so many soul fulfilling things in a lockdown....what more can one ask for

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    1. Thanks much Ratnaja. Your garden is even larger with so many winged visitors. And, your paintings are so uplifting. Keep going👍

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  3. Thank you Sir for a nice picture story of well utilized stay home period

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  4. Great way to enjoy the Lockdown Harsh. Cheers

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    1. Thanks much Vinod. Hope Shail and you are safe.

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  5. Wonderful. Keep it up...👍👍👍

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  6. Wonderful! Particularly liked the do your own cooking :)

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  7. Lovely and sounds busy. My garden is not as promising as yours but trying to keep it alive. In our home also my daughter Maya has a Zoom session everyday where they have tambola or Zumba dancing or sharing recipes or Movie club discussions. She is maintaining a lockdown diary. I have been making Videos of stories and songs for children...

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    1. Wow, sounds very interesting. Any link to your video stories for children?

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  8. Great going during lock down Harsh

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  9. Very Inspiring sir. Will try to make up during LD(lock Down) 2, which is underway.
    Lovely narration and a Good Read !!

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    1. Thanks much Sri. Have been longing to come over. But now we have to wait a bit more. Hope you all are safe.

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  10. Very nice to know your activities sir. I started writing my Travelogue, on Crisis and edited my friends book too. I am available for online sessions.

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  11. Lovely Sir ! Actually you seem more occupied than when you were not on a lock down ?!😊😅

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    1. Of course Vasu! I didn't mention all the household chores which are in addition 🙏

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  12. Beautiful post Harsh! You've sure been busy all round! Gardening, cooking, teaching online, playing tambola with grandkids, photography, blogging, including videos of Aunty, Ansh playing the piano...he's excellent at it! bird watching, practicing golf and lots more. It was great to have a glimpse of what you've been up to Harsh. Productively using Lockdown to accomplish many things. Kudos to you. a you're an inspiration to all!

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    1. Thanks much Trixie for your encouragement. That does it!

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  13. Of course there's lots more to add sir ....

    Lock down is ...

    Learning to broom and mop the floor.

    Lockdown is ...

    Learning to do without a lot of stuff that I thought I couldn't live without.

    Lockdown is ...

    Reviving story-telling skills

    Lockdown is ...

    Learning to use a sewing machine

    Lockdown is ...
    Breathing purer air.


    And so on . . .

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    1. Agree with you Jai absolutely. So aptly added, many thanks. Hope you all are safe and sound.

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