Carlton - IHM - The best years of my life

The best years in my life

Carlton

I graduated from Joseph’s college Tiruchirappalli in 1982 with a degree in Mathematics. I did not want to progress along that beaten path with a Masters degree and then teach Mathematics. I wanted to do something different.

That is how I landed up at IHMCTAN in Chennai. I completed the 3 year Diploma in 1986 and those three years were the best years of my life.  I shared a room with Sean Jones in the College Hostel. The room was meant for four people, but no one wanted to stay with us. Wonder why? 

Let’s just say for the record that we were musicians and played late into the night under the influence of unholy spirits and other organic hydroponic foliage. Maybe, that is why we were left to ourselves.

Note: Second hand smoke is just as effective 

Classes were hazy for the most part, but we got through. All of us had fun. We had a great band and played at every inter-collegiate festival from 1983 to 1986.

As for cooking. let’s just say that I learned to cut onions well. This showed when I trained at the Taj Coromandel hotel. My trainers were frustrated, but I had a very dedicated and patient chef Krishna Kumar at Golden Dragon, who brought me up to speed, pretty quick. 

While at the Golden Dragon as a chef de partie I applied for an assistant flight purser position with Air India and got selected in 1988.

I met my wife Gretta who was an Air hostess with Air India. Needless to say I had no chance of joining the mile high club, as we always flew together. In any case why would I do that, with a beautiful woman by my side. I lasted with the airline until I migrated to Australia in 1994. 

My first job down under was as a trainee manager with the Sizzler chain of restaurants at Brisbane. That was a real eye opener for me. The training lasted 6 months and was so scientifically done. The trainers were really professional and the emphasis was on building self-esteem without the trainers ego getting in the way of a positive outcome. Strictness tempered with kindness was the essence of the training programme. 

I learned every aspect of the business and worked with them for five years. The hours were long and stressful, and I decided to move away from the Hotel Industry. 

I joined the Australian Public service and worked for six years retiring in in December2022 at the ripe old age of 61. I am enjoying my retirement now with a self-funded pension and doing what I love most. Playing music with various bands in Melbourne.

Carlton, Class of 1986