The chief of IMF and probable candidate for French presidential poll is held for sexual assault ...
Concerns of a cheer leader of IPL ...
Yes, India sure is matching the world in offences. Wish we match the world in catching the culprits.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Democracy or Vigilantism ?
The BJP said that people spontaneously poured in and demolished the "disputed structure". The jury is still out on it. Now TMC says that people were excited and could not be stopped from entering the TATA premises.
I wonder what Anna Hazare has to say about this !
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Missing Flights & Trains
Have I ever mentioned in here that I have missed a flight, and that I then paid on my own and traveled business class to keep the appointment. That was on a autumn day in Bangalore. I was to catch a early morning flight to Mumbai. SG did tell me that I better set the alarm earlier, but I was confident (even though SR had to rush me to airport two times earlier). Anyway, the taxi came on time. I made it wait. Reached airport just 15 minutes before the take off time. They had closed the boarding. The airline is known for its timely operations. I thought I had learnt my lesson, that too a costly one. But did I? No, I did not.
Just the other day, while travelling to Bath, VC almost missed the train, I had the tickets. He ran and huffed and managed to get onto the right train. But little did he know that I was about to surpass him. At Salisbury, where we had to wait and change trains. I had the brilliant idea of having breakfast. We did go out and order even when VC was apprehensive. Full English breakfast, delicious. The coffee was made from freshly ground beans, marvelous. We ate, we ran and we missed the train. Luckily the next one was soon enough and the trio was not ruined. It did become costlier.
So then, I thought I had learnt my lesson. I did indeed. I reached the rail station 30 minutes before the departure to Edinburgh. VC to started well in time. We were sure to start this on a good note. But good is not always interesting. We had something interesting in store. VC had to take the tube. After being advised by me and other people he took the fastest route, it just so happens that it is the most reliable route too. But what is interesting here? The services on the tube broke down. Apparently the train ahead on the line could not close its doors, and so could not leave the platform. VC's train was held between stations for more than 45 minutes. Yes, we missed the train, again. and this time it was the last train of that operator and the costs were substantial.
I was in army issue overalls and shoes, all ready for the snow. And we had missed the train. Hopeless, we went to the information counter to listen to the verdict. Surprise, we were allowed to take other operator's train, provided reservations were available. This was a costlier service, reservations only. But we need not pay anything extra. As luck would have it, we did get the reservation on a train with a friendly Scottish ticket examiner. Edinburgh was not even an official stop. Reached there at 0330 in the morning. We were welcomed by snow.
So what did I learn? It is sometimes good to be late. Amen!
Monday, August 30, 2010
From Oxford, with Love
Friday was a hectic day - work and planning for long weekend. Suddenly remembered that I had not visited Oxford and Cambridge yet. The Meccas of modern education. So, the die was cast. Decided to visit Oxford the next day.
The journey was good. Had a few students going to the Reading music festival for company. Oxford itself was beautiful. Took the tour by bus and then walked around. After watching Man U rout Fulham, returned to train station.
Had to wait, sat on a bench. There was a girl, south-east asian, reading some book. Looked like the script used top to bottom as the direction. Wondered what it was. Remembered something about Chinese.
Fortunately we both boarded the same compartment and too respective seats. After some time a silly question came to my mind. How to indicate the end of a sentence when writing top to bottom? What better to know but to get the answer from horse's mouth. I approached the girl and asked what she was reading. Ah, she didn't understand English fully. She was from Japan. She was reading Japanese. After going through the book my self, I could figure out the comma and full stop. She confirmed too. I thanked her and came back to my place.
After some time, as the train was slowing, the girl came to me. She offered me the book, as a memory of the trip. Now, my logical brain switched on. I said, "Thanks, but I do cannot read or understand Japanese. The book is of no use to me unless you teach me Japanese." I don't know how much of it she understood, but she sure understood that I didn't want that book. She smiled, said bye and left. She had to get down at that station. I had a long way to go before reaching London.
Only after the train start did I realise that perhaps I should have kept the book. That was a sweet gesture from her. I should have reciprocated. May be I should have asked for e-mail address too. And may be I should have got down with her. After all you don't meet nice people often.
Silly me !!!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Living in UK
Pound Seekers
The other day, after the usual jog in the evening, I was walking towards the Sainsbury's for food. A young man came from behind, white, properly dressed but clearly blue collared. First, he asked for a pound. I said "I do not have". Then he asked for 50p. I said "Am not carrying my wallet". Finally he asked for a cigarette. I said "I do not smoke" and then he said "For God's sake, you are in my piece of a shit country!". As if this was not enough, just after a few days, another incident happened. I was coming back from shopping at the High Street. Just as I was crossing a pub, an elderly white man, properly dressed, asked for a pound. And just around the corner, a very young girl asked for another pound. Three different beggars in perhaps the world's richest city.
Streakers
Our office had just completed 2 years. Some fun events were planned, including indoor football. WE played 4 matches - 3 losses, 1 win. I too got some shots at the goal. But no goals though. It was fun, ultimate fun. But the highlight of the day was something else. It was the scene in the men's shower & changing room, afterwards. I had not seen so many men, together, naked. Yes, I may be accused of being a prude. I may be derided for not being modern. But I have to admit that nothing had prepared me for this. Welcome to the western culture.
Fun Seekers
After an eventful day at work - meeting, football, quiz, I was jogging in the park in the evening. During the second lap there was this bunch of 4 teenagers - 3 boys 1 girl, on a bench along the track. While I was passing them the first boys tells me that my shoe laces are undone. While I bend and check, the girl stands up and gets in my way, I just managed not bumping into her. Seems they wanted me to bump into her. I wonder why. By the time I was finished with my routine, they were gone. I still wonder. I really missed the opportunity ;-)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
How I Lost & Found My Passport
It was 27 April, I was in transit from Bangalore to London. I was in Paris's Chrles de Gaule airport. After going through the security check for my connecting flight I rearranged the documents on me. Kept the non-essentials in the bag and put the essentials in my shirt pocket. There after I put on my jacket. The essentials included my passport and boarding pass. Had to call home to reassure parents about me being safe and fine. So walked down the lobby to find a telephone. Found one, but had no clue how to use. Although I had got international roaming activated on my VodaSIM from India, that too refused to cooperate. At the second telephone, after careful reading of instructions, I was able to place a call to India, using my credit card. Thank you ICICI. Thank you VISA. The next task was to set my watch to new time zone. I was not wearing a simple watch, but a sophisticated gadget. Very unlike me, I had not read the user manual of appliance, I was carrying the booklet with me though. Read through it and set the time. It was not difficult. Then it was time to check mails. Again the credit card came to my rescue. After responding to mails and noting down the addresses in my notebook when I put the pen in my pocket, I realised that neither the passport, nor the boarding pass were there on me!
Checked my bags, checked all my pockets. Nothing. Retraced my path back to security, nothing. Went to the Air France counter, nobody was there. With the fear of being deported I went to the security. Narrated the story. They were surprised. Asked me to check again. I requested them to make an announcement, they said they cannot. One of the ladies manning the security was winding up her shift and she offered to take me to the airport police. Reluctantly, I crossed the security gates, mindful of the fact that if I do not get the loct documents I will not be able to get back these gates again.
The air port police too seemed helpless. They acted as if they have no come across such situation before. Anyway, I was taken to their control room in the basement. Imagine my predicament. The horrors shown on TV & movies came to my mind. After another round of check, a policeman and woman took me further back to the place where I had arrived. At this counter of Air France it was confirmed that I sure had traveled from Bangalore. So from there, the policewoman escorted me back to where it all began. Remember, nobody has agreed to make an announcement till now. An announcement to request anyone who found the documents to hand it over to the police. Anyway, we crossed the security gates, without proper documents, went straight to the Air France counter, the place where nobody was there when I first tried to check. Fortunately, my documents were there at the counter. Some good samaritan had returned them. I was happy, truly happy. After profusely thanking the policewoman and going through the security check again, I was ready for my journey again.
Some British Experiences ...
Sign in the toilets - Now please wash your hands.
Sign on the bath tub - Please rinse your hair and soap. It is disgusting to clean others' mess.
Sign in public transport - Please keep your feet off the seats.
Typical breakfast - Egg, bacon, sausage, chips, mushrooms, beans, coffee.
Transport - If you can read and understand English then you will have absolutely no problem. Pretty good signs and maps in place.
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