Islands

I have just returned from Manila. Again. As many people would immediately point out. But, this trip was different. My fiance and I had taken upon ourselves the task of bringing to the same room, four members of the species Parent, and uncounted members of the species Relative. A traditional engagement get-together. Meet-the-parents. Call it what you want. As luck would have it, the project turned out to be an unmitigated success.

My dad, mom and I spent three full days with my fiance and her folks in Manila.

January 9-10, 2010 has been picked for festivities in Nasugbu, in the Philippines.

We are looking at:
http://www.fuegohotels.com/terrazas/body.html
http://www.nasugbuchurch.com

This will be followed by complementary festivities in Chennai, a week or so after. Save the dates, people.

It is interesting to see how members of the species Parent interact. I have seen many an 'arranged' Indian pre-wedding discussion. This one was possibly no different, in spite of the cultural barriers that both sets of parents had to cross. "We own that piece of land." "We have two houses here, and all that jewelry belongs to our daughter." "What diseases does his grandpa have?" "Did her grandma have high blood pressure or cholesterol?" "You should have a child no later than..." "He used to hate coffee when he was a kid." "She likes to play the piano and sings well."

Setting us up for success, that is all.

On another front, work is depressing. We have new people in top leadership positions, and as is always the case, that comes with a re-organisation. I heard my boss whisper loudly in Hindi, "I hate my job". He is now trying to find a crack to slip through. Which means, he does not care whether I do my work or not. I have a fancy office in town, work right outside Mohamed Sultan and Clarke Quay, lunch at Robertson Quay, get to wear crisp, clean clothes, and have nothing to do. And, it came with a promotion. Maybe, I was having much more fun slaying dragons on my island paradise, in coveralls and gloves, eating Mee Goreng and Roti Prata for lunch.

I wish to read. I wish to write in a manner that others want to read. I wish to own a diving resort in a beautiful tropical outpost, and be both boss and customer. I wish to travel the world second class and take very beautiful photographs. In Black and White. I wish to speak at least a dozen languages. I wish to be an expert at something, in a way that my opinion counts.

Well, none of those things will happen in the next two minutes.