BCAP Picnic 2008: A Personal Account

Dr. Manaan Kar Ray

17th August 2008

Woke up around 7 am and it was raining cats and dogs. “There goes our picnic”, I thought. Came downstairs, turned the tele on, got further depressed by Paula’s marathon run and BBC’s futile efforts to dress it up with talk around “Olympic spirit". The showers eased up around 8 am and gave Nando da a ring. He was very optimistic about the weather. Soon after the call Zac and Mark powered away to GB's first lightweight rowing gold and as par Nando da’s prediction the Sun had started shining. By the time we left for Ferry Meadows, GB had bagged 4 golds for the second successive day and being an honorary Briton was in much better spirits, not to mention the temperamental English weather was at its best.

We had a nice spot next to the water sports centre car park. Bulu bowdi and Swapna di had already started chopping vegetables and Srobona and Monjistha joined in. Ranjit da was on tremendous form with the onions – not a tear dropped. While Biswas mesho and Rito were setting up the Gazebo, Nando da served tea. Around this time Aditi di along with the BBQ expert Ashis da turned up and got straight down to doing what he does best – doing barbecue. Rito, Indrajeet and myself had a go at cricket but there were too few fielders and we adjourned for the time being.

Soon Ashis da started serving chicken – BBQ style and we hung around like vultures for more. Meanwhile Ranjit da under some supervision from the ladies team (I have to confess) was busy preparing Lamb curry. Some concerns were raised about blessings from above (bird droppings from the trees), however Nando da dismissed them saying “even if that happens it will get boiled and thus will become sterile”. So for you happy souls who are reading this I am not making any suggestions about the secret ingredient that made the lamb curry so tasty. Or was it all down to Ranjit da’s culinary skills – Keep guessing.

Our number’s swelled as people trickled in and finally our priests after a rigorous morning of training at Usha di’s place joined us. Badminton skills were on display and the long hours Madhumita had put in practicing in her court yard as a youngster were evident. Dare I say, even our elders - rather our seniors (Biswas masho, Ranjit da, Swapna di) were not left behind. 

It was time for some cricket and although Sam was the best bowler we had, Arijit kept taking the wickets. I have to mention that Jayanta da managed to coax us into bowling an extra over to him and three balls later Indrajeet managed to hit Jayanta da on the head from about 40 yards away – divine retribution – no harm done but it was hilarious. Abhijit kept wickets and couldn’t help giving some friendly banter from behind the stumps. Not happy with the behaviour on display by our priests, the rain gods decided to put a brake on the fun we were having.

As the skies suddenly turned dark and few drops started falling, we were told sternly by the ladies group that if we don’t eat now kasa manso kintu ar kasa thakbey na. Amazing what a bit of running around can do to your appetite. All of Ashis da’s BBQ had been digested by buckets of peptic juice and the pulow, manso and chatni went down very quickly. What a meal it was!!! 

The weather eased very quickly and after the finger licking lunch it was time for good old fashioned adda. A lot of praise was heaped on Ranjit da, Ashis da, Aditi di and Bulu bowdi for the culinary delights and Swapna di for coordinating. Amidst laughter and giggles they passed on the credit to others. Barun da was at it again with his jokes. I couldn’t help having a few customary digs at Parama, needless to say that she didn’t let any opportunity slip either. 

Amidst all this Hee Haw we sat down for a round of Bray, Sam was the cursed one to start with but Rito when he took over from me had his share with a 23 and a 25. Rasogolla was served in the meantime and a little later gateau. The day was drawing to an end. Everyone helped to take the Gazebo down. Operation clean up started and Nando da, Sam and Biswas Masho sorted out the ash from the BBQ. 

All in all it was a great day out. Lots of fun, good food, great company, lots of laughter and pretty much the best of British summer. Fantastic.

3 cheers of BCAP. Hip Hip Hooray!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!

Magic Moments:

The biggest tantrum: Mahi’s 5th attempt to go for a ride in the toy train.

The biggest paradox: Parama who is renowned to have a sparrow’s appetite was seen to be eating from two plates simultaneously.

You must be kidding me: After repeated attempts to wind Usha di up, Barun da professes “Being a Buddhist you cannot retaliate or get angry.”

The biggest laugh: Barun da poses for a picture with Parama handing in a near empty packet of Tilda Basmati and claiming that the promise made for Abhijit being the Durga puja priest is now fulfilled. Parama wasn’t having any of it. Nanda da had always maintained that the promise was for BROKEN basmati and true to his reputation could not help suggesting using the MIXY to turn the basmati into broken basmati.