Favourtie Chair.
By Rummuser. Filed in Raves and Rants, Relationships |Tags: Ajanta, Chair, Easy Chair, Nick name, Rum
A photograph that was very popular among our friends and relatives was this:
This photograph was taken in 1985 just before I went in for my surgery for the first hip replacement. The photographer was my friend and brother in law, who alas is no more. The painting behind us is an Ajanta Cave copy, still with us. It is among the best made by Urmeela and many collectors tried to buy it off her, but she simply wanted it for her own satisfaction.
You will also see a vase of flowers behind Urmeela. This was her passion. She loved to have flowers in the house and would buy them whenever she ventured out till we moved to Pune where she set up her own garden. This particular photograph was taken when we were living in a large flat, apartment for my American friends, in Bombay, and though we had a common garden, flowers had to be bought regularly. Needlessly to say, after the garden came into her life, the vases dried up unless someone brought a bouquet of flowers as a peace offering!
In the photograph, I have a glass of rum and water in my hand. That was my favourite drink then. We had a lot of restrictions on imports and good whisky was hard to come by, though I would manage to get a local malt now and then. The photographer and friend cum brother in law, was my drinking buddy and gave me my nickname Rummy that has lasted for nearly forty eight years.
The Chair that I am sitting on is my favourite. It was made specially for me by a dear friend of mine, Kashi, who was at that time stationed in Kanpur. He had one exactly like this, and if my memory serves me right it was an inherited heirloom. The one that I got from him is just a copy. Without me on it, it looks like this:
This type of chair is generally called an easy chair here in India, and is favoured mostly by retired elderly persons. A variation of the design is with extendable arms that tuck under the top arm rests. When extended by a swivel movement, one can stretch one’s legs on top and it is total bliss! It has a canvass hammock slung between its frames and believe me, it is the most comfortable to sit on. By adjusting the rear frame’s tilt, the seat can either recline or be in an upright position and it is a boon when I want to sleep in the garden in the winter afternoons. It is light to carry and can be folded and stored away in an unobtrusive corner when not in use, but I keep it permanently near a lamp so that I can read whenever the mood takes me. The same lamp that you see on the top photograph continues to do service even today.
What triggered this post was a request after many years, for a copy of the photograph from a friend who had seen us like we appear on it here. I could not very well let the opportunity go without blogging about it, now that I can scan old photographs!
How about you? Any favourite chair or piece of furniture that has been with you for many years and continues to give great comfort even now?
Sunday, July 12th 2009 at 18:09 |
A modern day equivalent of the chair is called a “Laz-Boy” in America. They are very comfortable chairs. I now have a cane bamboo armchair which though relatively new, is my favorite chair the house. I expect and hope to have it for many decades to come.
Sunday, July 12th 2009 at 21:20 |
My favorite piece of furniture is my bed. It is a California King size with a pillow top. In addition, some years ago I bought a down mattress pad to go on top. My husband teases me that I am like the princess who could feel a pea under her mattress. (http://childhoodreading.com/Edmund_Dulac_and_Gus/Princess_and_the_Pea.html)
But I can’t tell you how many times I have laid in my bed at night and said out loud, “I love this bed!”
Delirious´s last blog ..Obama Look Alike
Sunday, July 12th 2009 at 21:35 |
That chair looks a little like a traditional seaside deckchair used on beaches and public parks in years gone by. http://www.deckchairs.co.uk/deckchair.html
Mind you yours has the added bonus of the arm rests and looks more exclusive.
I do have a piece of furniture that I love, but will keep it under wraps until I photograph and blog about it!
Grannymar´s last blog ..Questions, Questions
Sunday, July 12th 2009 at 21:56 |
Ditto on Grannymar’s comment.
I would really enjoy seeing a clear photo of the painting by itself.
Looney´s last blog ..
Monday, July 13th 2009 at 01:07 |
Thank you so much for getting the scanner. As you know, I love seeing pictures of your life.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monk´s last blog ..Doing the Best We Can With What We Have Left
Monday, July 13th 2009 at 06:26 |
Sexy looking dude, you are. And Urmella looks good too.
We have 2 chairs at our cabin that were $13 each, at Walmart. Ugly looking, but very comfortable. Like your nice looking chair, it extends for a foot rest too.
Monday, July 13th 2009 at 07:24 |
Hi Ramana,
Just love seeing you two together!
Her art work looks lovely.
Ditto…for me on grannymar’s, bikehikebabe’s and Jean’s comment.
Gosh..favorite piece of furniture…I always buy with comfort in mind.
I guess it’s the bed since I spend the most time in that…lovely like sleeping on a clouds…soft and it just like being hugged in comfort.
Namaste,
Diane
Monday, July 13th 2009 at 15:09 |
I love seeing of your pictures. Thank for sharing it.
Spring bed for when I get married is my favorite furniture. Not because its model, brand, etc. There is our memories in it. Once, I ask to my wife: “In the future, if this bed is seen to be outdated, will you replace it with new model?”. Then she replied: “No, why you asking like that?”
Tikno´s last blog ..New Paper Currency Rp 2.000
Monday, July 13th 2009 at 22:01 |
Honestly sir, you don’t seemed to have aged at all. No piece of furniture as such, but my home is definitely something that I am attached to. It always makes me feel great even when I am alone. I have lived here for the past 12 years and love my house like crazy.
Ashok´s last blog ..Breaking the Habit…10 years ago
Rummuser Reply:
July 15th, 2009 at 10:27
Ashok, flattery will get you everywhere. Thank you for the compliment. Yes, one can get attached to a home too. And why not?
Tuesday, July 14th 2009 at 17:29 |
Hello there…what a lovely lady! May I see a picture of the picture sometime please?
I pulled two deckchairs with arms on from a skip years ago. They never got used and went to a charity shop.
As for chairs…I have two that belonged to my maternal grandfather….a couple of years ago someone was showing me a copy of the “Daily Express” from the 1930s and there was an advertisement for Granddad’s chairs! 1 GPB each! They do need a lot of work doing on them.
As for favourite pieces of furniture>>>I think I’ll take a leaf out of Grannymar’s book.
Never di get on with Rum BTW!
magpie11´s last blog ..A Great and Wicked Disturbance
Rummuser Reply:
July 15th, 2009 at 10:23
Ah, what a pity that you never got on with Rum! What a drink. If I ever start drinking again, it would revert to its original place of my second choice after single malts.
I am arranging to take a good photograph of the Ajanta copy and shall post it later.
Wednesday, July 15th 2009 at 02:34 |
Three things jump out at me:
1. I really like this picture!
2. Urmeela was quite a talented artist!
3. I’ve had a chair almost identical to that! They are quite comfortable.
The single object that has traveled with me through thick and thin adventures for 33 years is a happy buddha statuette! I think I should take a picture of it for you and do a quick post for tomorrow showing it.
Conrad´s last blog ..So, you’ve got common sense. Uh huh.
Rummuser Reply:
July 15th, 2009 at 10:14
A laughing Buddha! One sits right next to where I work on the computer. Eagerly await your post.
Wednesday, July 15th 2009 at 05:28 |
Hi Ramana:
I would like to quote Billy Crystal: “You look marvelous!”
This picture simply takes me back to the India of yesteryear, with the songs of Kishore Kumar and the peace of the non-pc world! This is absolutely fabulous of you to share with us. Thank you.
Raj Krishnaswamy´s last blog ..Thermal Spray TBCs porosity
Rummuser Reply:
July 15th, 2009 at 10:09
Yes, come to think of it, 1985 was when Kishore Kumar was at his best! I used to tease U with that song of his – janey jaan, dhoonduthaa phir raha hun tujhey raath din tu kahaan? Main yahaan. The flat we were living in then, where the photo was taken was of 2600 Sq’, in Bombay!! Yes, we can easily slip into nostalgia.
Wednesday, July 15th 2009 at 23:22 |
Rummy, I believe that Conrad’s butt is so fat that no matter what chair he sits in, he would be comfortable! As for you and your wife, you look great sitting in your chairs!The rum looks even greater.!
Rummuser Reply:
July 16th, 2009 at 17:21
I am delighted to see you back in action Gail. Where have you been? How are the roos?
Unfortunately, I have never seen Conrad’s butt. I am therefore unable to respond to your comment. I leave the onus on Conrad. Are you reading conrad?
Conrad Reply:
July 16th, 2009 at 21:49
Of course I’m reading, Ramana. In fact, I’m so offended, I’m sitting in a corner pouting as we speak! The good part is that I am quite comfortable in the corner as I am wherever I sit…
Conrad´s last blog ..So, you’ve got common sense. Uh huh.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 at 04:20 |
just looking at the photo reminds me of my grandfather, he has a simliar type of chair here in the uk and the glass rum pure class, just thought i’d comment on the photo, bet you still have the chair?
Saturday, November 7th 2009 at 11:42 |
That chair is extraordinary! My drink of choice is rum and coke as well. There is nothing like a fresh carbonated coke and the finest rum that enhances it. Urmella’s artwork is exquisite, however it is understandable why she wouldn’t part with the Ajanta cave copy of the painting. You both are very blessed.
Rummuser Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 21:53
Thank you.
Saturday, November 28th 2009 at 15:09 |
Here in Australia we w\very much get attached to our chairs. most homes have a favorite chair of Dad’s that is usually a little worse for wear but would never be considered to be replaced. They are comfy and could tell a lot of stories if they could speak. it’s lovely you have one made by a close friend. That makes it very special indeed.