<h2>The road less travelled</h2>
<p>The early morning fog at Sanjay Gandhi National Park creates an ethereal ambience around a morning walker in Borivli</p>
<h2>A classic drive</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Bentleys-2_e.jpg" alt="John Walton (in driver&rsquo;s seat) drives the 1927 Bentley on the way to Gujarat" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>John Walton (in driver&rsquo;s seat) drives the 1927 Bentley on the way to Gujarat</em></strong></p>
<p>Never underestimate a classic. While motorists across India are complaining of bad roads, two Englishmen, John Walton and Robert Wilkinson, took out their 1927 model Bentleys for an eight-day road trip to <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maharashtra-10-leopards-moved-from-state-to-gujarat-23370765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Gujarat</a> last week. &ldquo;They are travellers, and often drive across countries. So far, they have driven these cars across eight countries in the world,&rdquo; shared Daniel Sequeira, who joined the duo in their support vehicle on the drive.</p>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Bentleys-3_e.jpg" alt="The two Bentleys during a stop on the road trip. Pics Courtesy/Daniel Sequeira" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>The two Bentleys during a stop on the road trip. Pics Courtesy/Daniel Sequeira</em></strong></p>
<p>Sequeira joined the duo, after they dropped in for a city tour in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-not-so-smooth-sailing-for-jetty-at-colaba-23519019" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Colaba</a>. &ldquo;Though the cars are vintage, and truly worthy of being in a museum, it was a rare chance to watch them on the road,&rdquo; he shared. India seems to have grown on them, as the duo are set to return in February for a jaunt down South.</p>
<h2>Awake on New Year&rsquo;s Eve</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Somnath-Waghmare_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>After travelling to London, followed by screenings across the country, Somnath Waghmare&rsquo;s (right)documentary on social activists, Gail Omveldt and Bharat Patankar, Gail &amp; Bharat, will be screened in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/several-injured-after-best-bus-crashes-into-pedestrians-near-bhandup-station-in-mumbai-23609814?mumbai-breakingnews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kurla </a>on December 31. &ldquo;It is actually a rare moment when the daughter Prachi Patankar is in town,&rdquo; revealed filmmaker Waghmare. Readers can call 9137234430 for more details on the screening.</p>
<h2>On happy ground with phone found</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Pervez-Cooper_e.jpg" alt="Pervez Cooper hands over the phone to top cop S Deshmukh and PSI Dongre of Colaba police station. Pic/By Special Arrangement" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Pervez Cooper hands over the phone to top cop S Deshmukh and PSI Dongre of Colaba police station. Pic/By Special Arrangement</em></strong></p>
<p>Finders keepers, losers weepers goes the adage. That happily did not come true for the owner of an iPhone recently. The gent forgot his device in the backseat of a cab in the city. Fortunately for him, Colaba resident Pervez Cooper boarded that same &lsquo;kaali-peeli&rsquo; from Dadar West. Cooper said, &ldquo;I found the iPhone in the back seat of a cab. I switched the phone off, attended a meeting and then boarded a train to <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/photo/in-photos-smog-in-parts-of-mumbai-as-air-quality-stays-moderate-108910" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">South Mumbai </a>taking the phone with me. I went to Colaba police station where I explained to the cops I had found this in a cab. We switched on the phone. It started ringing with the owner calling trying to trace it. The cops asked him to come to Colaba police station, and after verification handed over the phone to him. The owner did call me to express his gratitude. I simply told him: I followed my conscience,&rdquo; said Cooper, who is an activist too, at the forefront of several Colaba-centric citizen matters. What can one say except, super-duper Mr Cooper.</p>
<h2>Young minds curate history</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Curators_e.jpg" alt="The young curators pore over a title card. Pic Courtesy/CSMVS" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>The young curators pore over a title card. Pic Courtesy/CSMVS</em></strong></p>
<p>Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), through its Children&rsquo;s Museum, presented the Young Curators&rsquo; Programme, a three-day initiative held from December 27 to 29, empowering 20 children between the ages of 10 to 17 to become museum curators. Vaidehi Savnal, assistant director, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/education-minister-to-conduct-surprise-checks-in-100-schools-through-the-year-23499814" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">education </a>and public programmes, revealed, &ldquo;The Young Curators were busy writing labels, shaping narratives, and deciding how they want audiences to experience the exhibition, all while finalising the exhibition title. [This exhibition] will be open for for visitors at the Children&rsquo;s Museum soon.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Safronov&rsquo;s brush with Mumbai</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Nikas-Safronov_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>Renowned contemporary artist Nikas Safronov (right) has made his way to Mumbai from Russia, with love as they say, for his solo exhibition in the city. On display at the National Gallery of Modern Art till January 15, his works from the Dream Vision collection are &ldquo;born from dreams, memories and subconscious images rather than from literal stories. The exhibition invites the viewer to slow down and enter that inner dialogue,&rdquo; the People&rsquo;s Artist of Russian Federation-awardee revealed to this diarist. The Mumbai debut comes on the heels of a Delhi show earlier this month. &ldquo;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/kamala-mills-fire-anniversary-bmc-issues-advisory-on-fire-safety-ahead-of-new-year-2026-celebrations-in-mumbai-23609792?news-breakingnews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mumbai</a>, in particular, fascinates me with its energy and contrasts: Tradition and modernity, noise and silence, chaos and rhythm. I am looking forward to experiencing the city not just as a visitor, but as an observer &mdash; listening, absorbing and learning,&rdquo; Safronov shared.&nbsp;</p>

Defying rough roads, two Englishmen drove their 1927 Bentleys on an eight-day journey to Gujarat, proving classic cars still thrive on modern adventures

Mumbai Diary | Tuesday Dossier: Two Englishmen drive 1927 Bentleys on eight-day road trip to Gujarat

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