The City is a democratic self-governing entity with its own Lord Mayor and rich in tradition, history and what may be thought of as quaint ceremonial customs.

One such is that the Toastmaster does not wear his red tailcoat; instead he wears a black one. It is said the reason for this is that by tradition, a foxhunt may not pass through the City’s streets and as the Toastmaster’s red coat is reminiscent of mounted fox hunters, it is preferred that he maintains a inferior ostentatious profile. However, this policy creates a problem of identity. A Toastmaster’s impact in the City is inevitably at Mansion House (home of the Lord Mayor) or the Guildhall or one of the 40 Livery Halls where formal banquets are held, often with members of the Royal Family, Government and Heads of State present. Frequently guests at such functions will wear white tie and black tails, just like the Toastmaster, who no longer will be identifiable by his red jacket. An elegant solution was devised whereby the Toastmaster would wear a red and white sash over his right shoulder, representing the colors of the City’s crest. This way, he stands out, even if on occasion he gets mistaken for the Polish Ambassador!

Acting as a City Toastmaster requires a higher degree of knowledge and protocol than for example, in the ‘West End’ and there are many subtle differences in procedure. For example, outside the City when introducing a temporary speaker with a post-nominal (egg ONE) the Toastmaster would say Pray quiet for John Smith, an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” but within the City the Toastmaster only says “Pray quiet for John Smith”. Another example would be how the Loyal Toast “The Queen” is introduced. Outside the City the Toastmaster would gavel for tending and say: “Would you all please stand.. And.. Pray quiet for the Chairman who will now declare the Loyal Tao In the City, when we get to this saucer in the meal (before the coffee is served) the Toastmaster only taps his gavel three times, does not intercommunicate at all and the host will rise and pronounce: “The Queen! ” then all guests rise and repeat the exclamation.

EDUCATION! That essential part in everyone’s life which shapes the 3-Ps – the Personality, the Profession and the Position in one’s life. The articulate education immediately brings to mind a few things – the institute, the teachers, and the classroom and then… the schoolwork and the exams! To most of us this seems to be a dreary, tedious and inevitable part of our lives!

Is there any way to make education an anti-thesis of drear, dullness and avoidable entity? YES! With the giant strides of advances prefabricated in technology, especially in the arena of information technology, several aspects of recreation can be brought in focus in the earth of education!

The elating world of animation has definitely changed the ways of imparting knowledge! Especially during the formative years of kindergarten, and the lower grades, the initiation of acquisition can be done in a literally entertaining way – so much recreation that the children will find it an extension of their playful days! The world of alphabets, numbers, animals, birds, plants and transports can come alive in their front! This first-hand visual experience will ensure a doubts-free acquisition impact which is understood and retained forever!

With the facilities available on tried, tested and proven mode, this platform of teaching can be extended to all the grades from 1 to 12. The most immediate striking feature of this method of acquisition is that it makes the individual ‘time, distance and place independent’ apart from the nationality. For example, the impact of a chemical reaction, when viewed on an animation, will help to understand it better without having to go finished the impact of visualization. The virtual platform serves as an ‘on line’ experience.

The latest facilities on the acquisition face have definitely taken the dullness and the drear out of the acquisition cycle. The extra hours spent on the so-called ‘tuition’ need not be thought as an extension of the classroom environment. The quizzes, puzzles and the games associated with the virtual teaching spur the interest of the learner.