The lady and the unicorn

I don't, despite my liking to read the posts shared by friends on Facebook, re-post stuff. An unjustified intellectual arrogance of preferring originals, you may say. And you are right, for like all haughty positions, this one must fall. So, as a first, I'd repost an incredibly insightful account of what goes on in minds of kids when exposed to matters of historical significance

"We visited Disraeli's manor today. S said why are we doing it when he is dead. She then asked me how did he find the time to write books if he was the PM (x2) and Finance minister (x3). There was a photo of Margaret Thatcher. S asked me if that was not the actress. We also looked at the handwritten first page of Sybil. T said he couldn't make out the handwriting. So I grabbed the published book and looked at the first page and then we deciphered Disraeli's handwriting. S and I then confirmed he did find the time to write books. Nachu was to be found at that time. When we told her about it she said we shouldn't bothered as she may have already read Sybil!"

My friend, L, is one of the smartest persons I know and would have had non trivial conversations with Disraeli. and his kids are very much of his same bent: always questioning and maybe they will one day chart new pathways forward for our countries.

Photo credits: IBtimes, andBerlin

In the unlikeliest of places...

... one meets another human being that reminds us of what humanity is. Whether it's Pepe in Sicily November last year, Sami in Riyadh in February this year or just earlier today Ranjan in Mumbai, these common folk, taxi drivers to be precise, bear the pressures of life with uncommon grace. Maybe it's a tool of their trade but there was a gentleness about them, a word Pepe used to describe us when he was driving us around and which also aptly describes him! and Sami and Ranjan. 

From Pepe, I learned his insightful read of the individual. With Sami, his culture of Pashtunwali. And today after 6 hours with Ranjan from Tamilnadu with 90 year old dad, mum recently passed, wife and two grown kids, I learnt that even the poor can have dignity. I treated him to dinner at an awarded Italian cafe. It was interesting to see all the middle class Indians eyeing us with suspicion, even the waiters. I didn't care nor did he as he partook of his first even Italian meal, a spaghetti duck carbonara no less.

I trust he is happy today

Coming home

For more than 15 years now, I fly out to work on Monday morning (sometimes Sunday evening), only to return by the end of the week... Usually Friday or when schedule permits! Thursday like today.

The pains of being a weekend father is undoubtedly real, but one learns to cope, even enhance the unintended consequences like being able to engage with the children more strategically (pretending not to know of their daily misdeeds). But it's the wife that suffers most... And over time having got accustomed to it, is quite happy she is the queen AND king of all she surveys at home :)

Thankfully, being away is not like in the past. One is still very much connected: the daughter's Instagram, the son's Facebook and of course daily calls with the wife and when the mood catches her, I get one of those really warm fuzzy emails about the home. These notes reminds me of our many hundreds of letters penned while maintaining our 5-year long distance relationship when we were dating while I was posted to Thailand and Vietnam. 

So, even though we both like to hark back to nostalgic times, the modern age isn't all that bad. The kids may not be as happening now, but at least they are Apping, to paraphrase the good wife.

Still, when the plane approaches Singapore, my heart skips a beat for I am but a few minutes away from my hearth and home.

In the footsteps of Bacchus

The Romans celebrated Bacchus, who led a debauched life seeking pleasure. 

I must confess I sometimes follow shamelessly in his footsteps. And often literally so for I enjoy a good session of Foot Reflexology, for instance (having just had one in the Thai lounge here in Bangkok international airport). It's partly for health reasons... For the science of physically manipulating the foot to  rid it of toxins that have accumulated at the sole makes intuitive sense!

So, Bacchus I am not for he had abandoned the pursuit of health. To further my case, I also submit to you that I do care about keeping the heart pumping and the muscles working. I still try to get some exercise once, even twice a week. 

Still, I am mortal alas, and clearly no saint. I do like a good drink or two. I didn't start out that way. Asa young adult, I hated beer and especially stout for I found them bitter in taste. After starting work, first in Singapore Airlines, then in Andersen Consulting, I fell under the persuasion of my colleagues there (to whom I remain grateful :) who introduced me to wine. Wine taste so uniquely different one bottle from another that it's taste can be associated with the time and place it was first consumed and when tasted again, memories of that moment can be relived! Then in BCG, I was introduced to fine spirits (single malt to be precise) and delicate fine foods. So, Bacchus I am.