Green Feet, Blue Skies & OooOOO Songs | Diary Entry - 5th June 2025

When the siren blows and you're still not at the morning meeting spot, you don't walk-you sprint. So I ran. The delay was self-inflicted this time. I had paused longer than I should have near the plant gate, chasing reflections with my phone camera and chasing away plastic trash from the path. 

It's a short 100-meter dash from there to the meeting venue. I joined the team just in time, before the prayer began. Mr. Yendabre noticed my breathless arrival and even gave it a friendly mention in his talk post-prayer.
These little recognitions, even when playful, add flavor to the day.

BVKR Sir had an engaging idea this morning-he asked all of us to form a human chain, or as I put it, a “garland of people.”
I captured the moment in video.
Such visual metaphors stay with people longer than lectures do.

Lately, I’ve been handling the HOD meetings myself.
The general tone among the team is-let's just say-subdued.
There's slowness, hesitation, and low energy.
Unfortunately, I’m not wired for that.
My meetings are like pressure cookers-intense, fast, and loud.
Not for noise’s sake, but for urgency and attention.

We had a new expat join the process team today-Mr. Baji Vali. I welcomed him and gave him a quick intro to the people and the plant. His self-introduction followed. 

At 9:30 AM, the real highlight began-World Environment Day celebration at the North Mines.

It had rained recently, so we travelled in a pickup truck.
On the mine road, I made the truck stop, jumped off, and resumed the ride standing at the back, capturing video footage of our journey.
Some thought it eccentric, others delightful. Either way, people noticed. These small acts have a way of making a statement without speaking a word.

At the venue, we planted saplings under the blazing sun and beneath a canvas of the bluest skies and thick white clouds-a perfect contrast that made everyone’s smiles brighter and the photos sharper. I made it a point to get everyone involved and took individual and group photos with enthusiasm. A senior colleague threw a used water bottle on the ground-it happens. We picked it up and moved on. Because awareness takes time, and change comes slower than we'd like.

As we returned, I again stood at the back of the truck and invited our workmen to join in. They hesitated. Mr. Yendabre took the first step, and the rest followed. Space was tight, and we stood there, shoulder-to-shoulder. It was raw and real. I nudged someone to sing. After some hesitation, Mr. Yendabre started. Soon, everyone was singing. I joined too-with my ‘O oo OOO’ contribution.

Do you want to hear that song? Click on this link: https://youtu.be/PSh0ZbuJiWY 

The singing, clapping, and my ever-running selfie video made the moment more memorable.

Back at the plant, I edited the clips, added the best moments from the plantation drive, and shared it as my WhatsApp status. I don’t post every day, but when I do, people usually react. And they did. Messages came in-some nostalgic, some grateful, some simply cheerful. It keeps the energy circulating.

At lunch, I did something for the first time-egg-fried rice.
I followed a short YouTube video and to my surprise, it turned out well.
It was a tiny personal win in the middle of an otherwise intense day.

Both production lines were running today.
Line#1 is still shaky, not yet stable, but we’re moving forward.
One step at a time. Like saplings taking root.

---

Key Points of the Day - 5th June 2025

• Reached just in time for morning meeting after running the last 100 meters.
• Captured reflections and picked up plastic on the way-part delay, part awareness.
• Mr. Yendabre noticed and mentioned the sprint after prayer.
• Human chain/“garland” formed by team on BVKR Sir’s suggestion-video recorded.
• Conducted HOD meeting-aiming to bring energy and pace back into it.
• Welcomed new process expat, Mr. Baji Vali, and facilitated introductions.
• Celebrated World Environment Day at North Mines with sapling plantation.
• Stopped truck to take creative journey video-well appreciated by colleagues.
• Group photo sessions and full team participation encouraged at the event.
• Collected a discarded plastic bottle-subtle action, big message.
• Return ride on truck led to team singing and bonding-captured in selfies and videos.
• Edited and posted event video as WhatsApp status-received lovely responses.
• Cooked egg-fried rice for the first time-followed a short video.
• Both production lines running; Line 1 yet to be fully stable.

Some days plant memories. Some days plant people.

Today, we tried doing both.

Next Day - 7th June, 2025

[Diary page of 6th June is not available.]

Previous Day - 4th June, 2025