Childhood in Madras

Every now and again I need to go back in time.Guess my yesterdays were far better than my today's.Well whatever the reason,having lived in Madras for years,I find going back in time happy.It usually happens when some well known landmark is being demolished and a glass monstrosity in coming up in its place.
So I have decided to start with the most important landmarks of my childhood in Madras.All shopping was done in Mount road.In those days this was a city of neon lights,much like the modern New York.They blinked and moved exciting messages of sales and bargains,of brands and such.All blue and red and wonderful.
Our meat was bought from Spencer's.The red brick building had a circular driveway with a few cars but most people came on public transport.The cold storage was a place to be.They also had a soda fountain where we were treated to cold lemonade and ice cream while the meat was being packed.Christmas time at Spencer's was an event to remember.Santa clause was always there and handing out gifts,large Christmas trees with decorations and gifts galore and the whole place lit up with Christmas carols in the background.All the old nice ones ,not the remixed versions we get today.
Buharis was another place for Christmas.Thin sandwiches were there speciality.Don't know what went into them but they were out of this world.
When it wasn't Christmas,we went to India silk house on mount road for most things.They were the only ones who sold swim suits then.My mother bought saris at tata Finlay and the white voils and organdie's still bring back memories.Small flowers on white was very fashionable in them days.Kiddies corner was the place for children's clothes and when we were were tired of all our shopping we went to Jaffers.This was the best ice cream place for years.High bar stools for children,comfortable sofas for adults.A banana split with chocolate cream,served in a boat.Peach Melba in a steel ice cream cup was the show stopper on the menu and the ice cream sundae was the best we have ever had.A pink wafer stuck out of the ice cream and the waiters in white with red caps,who knew exactly what a child wanted but was too scared to ask,were the best in the city.
Chellarams was always the place to buy dress materials,we didn't care for assembly line clothes.Our clothes were always stitched by Charms.I don't know what his name was,suspect it was Krishnamachari chand but we called him Charm uncle.He took pains to give us the latest designs from simplicity (fashion magazine) so were were always turned out well.Regular fittings were the order of the day and no demand of a 6 year old was too much for charm.
Next door to Charm was Kamala stores.He provided all the regular stuff and for Christmas I always got a big box of mangarams biscuits.I always believed he loved me so much and that's why I got the biscuits but my mother was a good customer and this was his way of keeping her happy,but it did wonders for my child ego.On regular days,my reward for being good was a large bottle of coca cola with a straw which I slurped noisily and with relish.The day coke was thrown out of India i stoped drinking it and when it did come back I was too old for it .In my mind it was a drink which was strongly associated with childhood.
This covered Mount road and Egmore in Madras.I have now to go to the various other places which have memories of a different eras.Until the next post.