Aptly titled `Helping Hands,' it's an organisation that has come forward with the `unique' service of offering to do all these routine jobs for you, thus releasing you from the need of standing in unending queues and making your way through serpentine traffic. Their services include payment of telephone and electricity bills, all PMC taxes, any kind of other bills, visits to post offices and picking up and delivery of shopping lists for provisions and so on.

The services come at a price ranging from Rs 160 for one visit to Rs 300 for two visits in a month. For additional charge, the duo in-charge, Vijay Rege and Vijaya, will deliver e-mails, arrange plumbers and electricians and take your vehicle for servicing. At the moment, the services are restricted to Aundh, Shivaji Housing Society, Yeshwant Nagar and Bhonsale Nagar. ``But if the response is good, we intend to extend the enterprise to the rest of the city,'' says Rege. A much-needed balance between social service and good business sense!

Laced with incongruity
Then was when bits of lace were accessories to an outfit. Now is when lace is an outfit with itsy-bitsy pieces of clothing added to it. At least that's the trend that seems to be the rage in today's fashion scene, going by the attires of Laila Rouass, who hosted the Miss India show in the city recently, and Diana King, who performed at the same venue the next day.

While Rouass shocked many a sensibility when she strode across the stage in the second half of the show dressed in a black lace dress that left nothing to imagination, King wore a near identical creation in white the very next day. Both outfits raised a lot of eyebrows as they gave a convincing demonstration of what not to wear on stage. Especially with the backdrop being something as imposing and respectable as a replica of the historic Shaniwar Wada!

Music supreme
The occasion is the Shiv Sena supremo's 72nd birthday and the celebrations begin. On the agenda is Swarali, a musical night on January 23 at 8.30 p.m. at the Balgandharva Rangmandir. Organised by the Shivajinagar Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal and the Jhansi Rani Laxmibaisaheb Pratishthan, it promises to be a melodious journey traversing 50 years of Marathi film music, especially from the less-remembered films. On the occasion, some well-known personalities from diverse fields like sports, culture and education will also be felicitated.

Remembering Kavi Pradip
Republic Day's a time when patriotic fervour marks most programmes in the city. One such programme, called Hindustan Hamara Hai, will be presented by Survihar, a city organisation, on January 26. This programme will consist of a presentation of recorded songs penned by renowned lyricist Kavi Pradip, who passed away recently. ``Kavi Pradip was known as a patriotic lyricist who was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke award and the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar for his notable contribution to the field of music. What better time than our Republic Day to pay tribute to his memory through his own songs,'' says Prakash Kamat of the organisation. Among the 21 songs featured in the programme are Chal Chal Re Naujawan from the film Bandhan, Door Raho Ae Duniyawalon from Kismat and Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se from Jagriti. For those fans of the lyricist, the Institution of Engineers hall at 6.30 p.m. is the place to be.