Loughborough Team Gathering Recap

Loughborough Team Gathering Recap

 We arrived in Loughborough a day early. The drive was quite pleasant, although Amil and I experienced a bit of confusion regarding the hotel location. I kept quiet, thinking we were heading to the correct place, but it turned out we were slightly off course. Amil said to me, “I saw we were passing the hotel but thought we would come back.” What?

 

Anyway, we decided to skip the hotel breakfast in favour of a delicious meal at the canteen in the main office, where you can enjoy a bacon rash, sausage, egg, and hash browns for just £2.80.

 

While in the meeting room downstairs, I spotted Bishu on a call and managed to wave at her. As I was coming out of the room, I also saw Scott Riddley at the reception. He was my former boss and line manager for nearly 20 years, so it was lovely to see his smiling face again. I couldn’t help but wonder how it seems that Bishu and Scott are always present whenever I’m in the London office or the main office in Loughborough. Perhaps Access Evo, the new AI tool, has created holograms of them! 

 

As the rest of the team arrived, Laura was chatting with Bishu, and we joined in. Tyana, who is from Canada, was just a couple of miles away while Bishu was apparently hanging out at Harvest Burger Bar in her teenage years. It seems that all roads lead to Loughborough.

 

Unfortunately, we missed Paul Firth who was stuck in his bus forever , but it was great to see Dina. We had a lovely time during the big break in Spain; it was nice to catch up with her. Big Andrew Pryimuk safely brought Laura Radcliffe to the meeting once again. Contrary to popular belief, he did not ask her to sit in the trunk to preserve his well-kept leather seats—she was sitting in the front! Tyana joined us from Birmingham, and our dynamic duo, Kathleen and Zara from MK, were also there.

 

Even before Access Evo was introduced, we had been using tools like ChatGPT and Co-Pilot. However, Access Evo is the new must-have AI tool that will surely make our lives easier.

 

As usual, we ended the day at the pub. Only team leader Sam Mohan couldn’t join us this time. I tried the fish and chips but ended up only eating the fish, which wasn’t bad at all! My squash soup was excellent, and Amil enjoyed some very tasty crab tacos.

 

 

Now it’s back to the office for a team-building experience, as Mama Radcliffe suggested. Managing a team with such diverse ages and skill sets can be a challenge, but Laura was great at handling everyone. Our team’s games officer, Kathleen, did not disappoint us yet again. After each question, Zara stares at me as if to say, 'Don’t you dare answer this time”.  Apparently, I am good at pub quizzes, so Tiana and Laura’s invitations will not be missed (you can’t change your minds now!).

 

It was a wonderful gathering with the team, although it’s bittersweet as it was my last day with this group. I felt like I had one foot in one team and the other in compliance. Transitioning to a new team within Access is challenging, especially when everyone is so friendly and caring. Thank you, Laura, and everyone who was there for me.

- Ajith 24/10/2024 (Co-pilot was used to check grammer)

To My Fiery Star

To My Fiery Star

 In the heart of a flame, there’s a kindness so deep,

A spark in your eyes, where your passions keep

You blaze through the world, fierce, unafraid,

With courage and wisdom your path is laid.

You fight for the truth, with both fire and grace,

But show tender mercy in each heated case

You lift those in need, with a heart open wide,

Yet stand like a warrior, with justice your guide.

An artist at heart, with colours you play,

And the law in your hands, moulding each day

You’re a beacon of strength, both gentle and bold,

With stories to tell, yet more to unfold.

So here’s to the fire that never will dim,

To the kindness within that flows to the brim

Happy 23rd to the soul so rare,

With a heart full of love and a spirit laid bare.

Ajith Dharmakeerthi 19/10/2023

Written for my daughter Shania's birthday 

Happy Birthday Shani Bani

'Stan' Meaning

If anyone remembers, right-wing demonstrators once referred to London as "Londonistan." I believe this was because London elected Sadiq Khan as mayor again, who is Muslim. It seems like they associate the suffix "-stan" with anything Muslim, which isn't accurate. As I mentioned earlier, the Soviets (specifically Lenin) in 1924 created five republics: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.

However, the term "-stan" actually comes from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient language from India and the mother of Indo-European languages. In Sanskrit, "stan" means "place," similar to "Sthanaya" (ස්ථානය) in Sinhalese, spoken in Sri Lanka. For example, "Hindustan" means "place of the Hindus." The Soviets adopted this concept for naming the republics: Uzbekistan means "place of the Uzbeks," and so on. This might explain why Kyrgyzstan was once called "Kirgizia."

Another point: In Samarkand, there are many Tajik people who speak both Uzbek and Tajik. Uzbek, Kazakh, Azeri (spoken in Azerbaijan), and Kyrgyz are Turkic languages, which have Turkic origins. On the other hand, Tajik comes from the Persian language, which in turn has roots in Sanskrit. So, Tajik is linguistically connected to Sanskrit. 

And this part from Chatgpt (AI tool):

Tajik is an Indo-Iranian language, which is a branch of the larger Indo-European language family. Latin, on the other hand, is part of the Italic branch of the Indo-European family. So, while Tajik and Latin are both part of the Indo-European family, they are from different branches, and their development diverged long ago.

As for English and German, they are part of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family, not directly from Latin. However, English has borrowed a lot of vocabulary from Latin, especially through French, but its core structure and grammar come from Germanic roots.

In summary:

• Tajik and Latin both come from the Indo-European family but from different branches.
• English and German come from the Germanic branch, not Latin.
• English has a significant Latin influence due to historical factors, but it is not derived from Latin.

 Tajikistan, located near Nepal, as well as Uzbekistan, were once Buddhist countries. This is because Buddhist monks from India used the Silk Road to reach Central Asia.

 

The boat

 

Boat carried the lovers

To the shore

They whispered among the flowers

And bushes

They took the small path

And vanished

Never to return

Boat waited and waited

Ripples from big house boats

Passing by,hit the small boat

Saying Come with us,

they would not return,

But the boat is waiting

Because, a day like this

One may return

If not both !

-Ajith 17/06/24

Your love is like a star

This song idea came from me, and I worked with an AI assistant ChatGpt to craft the lyrics.

your love is like a star

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

 Verse 1:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

Shining so brightly, though you’re far,

I reach out my hand, but you’re just out of grasp,

Like the love that I feel, but cannot clasp.

Chorus:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet always so far,

Like your love that I see, but can't hold,

A story of dreams, yet to be told.

Verse 2:

Under the moon, in the still of the night,

I wish upon stars, hoping I might,

Bridge the distance that keeps us apart,

For your love is the longing of my heart.

Chorus:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet always so far,

Like your love that I see, but can't hold,

A story of dreams, yet to be told.

Bridge:

In the quiet of twilight, I whisper your name,

With every sunrise, my love stays the same,

One day I hope, our paths will align,

Till then, I’ll keep dreaming, of when you’ll be mine.

Chorus:

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet always so far,

Like your love that I see, but can't hold,

A story of dreams, yet to be told.

Outro:

So I gaze at the sky, and I make my plea,

For one day your love, will shine down on me,

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

One day, I’ll reach you, no matter how far.

And the same song with Country song Style:

Verse 1:

[Chords: G - C - D]

Well, that big ol' sky, those bright shinin' stars,

They're like you and me, babe, but oh so far.

I reach out my hand, but you're just out of sight,

Your love's like them stars, always out of reach at night.

Chorus:

[Chords: G - D - C - G]

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet oh so far.

Like your love, it's a dream I hold,

A story of longing, yet to be told.

Verse 2:

[Chords: G - C - D]

Underneath the moon, in the still of the night,

I'm wishin' and prayin' for some sign of light.

But you're up there, darlin', out of my grasp,

Your love's like that star, too far to clasp.

Chorus:

[Chords: G - D - C - G]

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet oh so far.

Like your love, it's a dream I hold,

A story of longing, yet to be told.

Bridge:

[Chords: Em - C - G - D]

In the quiet twilight, I whisper your name,

Longin' for the day when our love's not a game.

But until then, darlin', I'll keep holdin' on,

Prayin' for the day when our hearts become one.

Chorus:

[Chords: G - D - C - G]

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

You're always close, yet oh so far.

Like your love, it's a dream I hold,

A story of longing, yet to be told.

Outro:

[Chords: G - C - D - G]

So I'll keep on reachin', no matter how far,

Hopin' and prayin' to catch that distant star.

Beautiful sky, beautiful star,

Someday, my love, we'll be where we are.

(c) Ajith Dharma  02/06/2024

Pang in my heart

 

Pang in my heart

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

Whenever I go to this place

My heart is filled with such happiness

Whenever I leave this place

I feel a pang in my heart

I feel like  I can’t leave

Like some sort of an attachment somewhat

To this beautiful place

Friend of mine said

I may have had a previous life in this place

I am a non-believer of previous lives

But maybe he is right somehow

Says my wife

It’s the nature’  serene beauty

that we attached to

My heart and mind are cool and calm

Even though outside  hot at  

37 degree Celsius

Dry zone in Sri Lanka-

Ajith Dharmakeerthi 07/05/2024

 

Two sides of Istanbul

There were two sides to Istanbul. Yes, we all know the European and Asian sides. When the Crusaders attacked and sacked the rich city of Constantinople in 1204, it was still a Christian city. It was then the capital of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). That was during the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204). At that time, Constantinople had been in existence since 330 CE, created by Constantine the Great of the Roman Empire. By then, settlements existed in the area since the 13th century BC.

Constantinople fell to the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1453. It's called the conquest of Constantinople on the 29th of May 1453, ending a 53-day siege. The siege was led by Sultan Mehmed II, and he made Constantinople the new capital of the Ottoman Empire, replacing Adrianople. After the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish capital moved to Ankara, and Constantinople was renamed Istanbul in 1930. It is the largest city in Europe, lying in both Europe and Asia, divided only by a 3.7 km wide, 30 km long narrow stretch of seawater called the Bosphorus Strait.

We stayed on the European side, and all the restaurants and tourist food prices are similar to European or British prices. We heard many stories of crafty tour guides and salesmen in Istanbul, but that is most probably if you stay on the European side.

When we first went to the hotel, alas it was under repair. We could not stay there and moved to a different one on the same night. The hotel staff was okay with it, and they realized we would not stay in a hotel still undergoing repairs. Strangely enough, it was Booking.com that advertised the hotel. The owner of the next hotel was Kurdish but spoke Turkish. They were quite nice and helpful too.

I heard Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish-speaking people in a lot of places. Some hotel workers in the hotel we stayed were from Turkmenistan who spoke to me in Russian. One Turkmen woman told me that the maximum monthly wage there (in Turmenisthan)  is about 100 US dollars, so it's better for them to work in Turkey. I told her, 'You came to the place where the original Nomadic Turkmen built.' She did not get the joke, though.

There was a Russian mom and two daughters who were very politely talking to us in the morning. I talked to her in Russian, and she explained that they are coming to buy Turkish and some Western products to sell in Moscow. 'What kind of goodies?' I asked. 'You know, perfumes, cosmetics for women, clothes. Now they don't come to Russia easily.' 'Oh,' I told her, 'foreign students did the same back in the '80s in the Soviet Union. It's like what Karl Marx said, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce."'. There was a mild smile from her at that quip.

On the second day, our tour guide took us to the ferry, and we went to the other side of the strait. Food is one-third cheaper, and most items sold to tourists are not exorbitantly priced. People are friendlier in a good way.

This chain there for the Sultan so he lower his head before the god. 

I went inside a mosque for the first time, and I found it calming. Inside, there is a large space to pray, and there was only a place for the sermon. I like this kind of large space in religious places; it's calming and ideal for meditation.

One of the most touching things I saw in Istanbul is their treatment of stray dogs and cats. This is a really compassionate act of not only safeguarding the animals but effectively caring for them, leaving food and drink in many places, and looking after the dogs with necessary injections, etc

You can see in one of the buildings there was a little inbuilt nests for birds.

Ajith Dharma 28/03/2024 

My Artichoke Salad and Mango Salad:

My Artichoke Salad: 

This is a quick salad to prepare, ideal for individuals dealing with Acid Reflux, high stomach acidity, and similar issues. It has minimal sugar content as well.

According to WebMD, artichokes contain chemicals that can alleviate nausea, vomiting, spasms, and gas. These chemicals have also been found to lower cholesterol and protect the liver. Artichoke is commonly used for indigestion and to manage high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood. Some studies suggest that it may also help lower blood sugar levels.

Ingredients I used (these may vary): Italian-style salad mix (baby spinach, green and red lettuce, wild rocket), Italian artichokes (available at Turkish or Greek shops or in Lidl), green olives, cucumber, two tomatoes (not ideal for acidity but when consumed with other salads, they seem fine), chickpeas (optional), no need to add olive oil as artichokes are typically marinated in olive oil, but if desired, some olive oil can be added. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.

Mango Salad (with Cheese if you like it)

Ingredients include half-ripe mango from Lidl, leftover watercress, spinach leaves, and rocket, 2 tomatoes, cucumber, salt, pepper, and lemon. If you like the taste, you can add Vintage Cheddar Cheese or a handful of any mature cheddar (not necessary). It takes only 10 minutes to prepare.

//Mangoes are generally considered to be low in acidity, which means they are unlikely to aggravate stomach acidity for most people. However, individual reactions to foods can vary. Some people with sensitive stomachs may find that certain fruits, including mangoes, can trigger acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues.

Mangoes contain certain enzymes and fibers that can aid digestion for some individuals. Additionally, they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can be beneficial for overall health.

- Ajith Dharma 19/03/2024