The Zahir

It has been a long time since I last read a book. I probably blame the buzzing life style, which leaves me little time to myself. As much as I would like to keep up with everything surrounding me, my body doesn't allow me to do so.

My body needs a certain level of stimulant in order to function, like a car needed the petrol in order to run. Unfortunately, my body is nowhere near a machine! He is begging me to slow down.

I finally made the first step. Over the last 5 days apart from the 45 mins to an hour which I spent to sort out some work related documents, I spent most of my evenings sitting by the window in the kitchen reading 'The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession'.

I finally got to p334 last Friday on the way to work. I was rather disappointed with the ending. It would have a different ending, if i were the writer and of course every book that i read would have a different ending if i were the author.

"Veronica Decides To Die" is another book by Paulo Ceolho which I read about 2 years ago, what strucks me the most is that I went through the same process of questioning myself about the meaning of life. Up untill this moment, I still haven't got an answer. however, I believe it changes from time to time as we grow older everyday. The most precious thing in your life today, could mean nothing tomorrow.

If we live like there's no tomorrow, we will soon find out the meaning of life along the path. I once read in somewhere, it says 'To seek the meaning of life is to keep on living'.

Could I issue an invoice for contra charges?

The morning doesn't seem too bad, at least the sun was shining.

I dragged myself out of the cosy bed and the routine starts by jumping into the shower, cleaning my face and brushing my teeth. It ends with a cup of extra strong coffee and a fag before I have to carry a laptop which has the weight of a few bricks.

I arrived at the station later than normal, thinking I must have missed the train to Clapham Junction. Bugger !! However, when i arrived at the platform, the train was still there calling at Clapham Junction and London Victoria. That's what it displayed on the train. What a lucky day for me eh ?!

I jumped on the train without thinking twice, in fact just 10 seconds before the door shut.

The door shut and the train was about to leave ! Thank God ! I will be on time for a change!

Suprisingly, the train was emptier than normal considering it was during peak hour. A lady asked me, "Is this train going to Gatwick ?!" I replied 'No?! while looking and reading from the display board. "It is going to Clapham Junction and London Victoria." I said. I must have said it pretty loud, a guy jumped up from his seat and tried to press the button. Too late mister ! I am sorry ,you are going to miss your flight, i am afraid.

I could hear the engine starting to roar and the train left the station. Damnit !!!!! It went the opposite direction ! Both the lady and the man were relieved. It is going to Gatwick ! I made a very sarcastic comment after the lady and I started laughing. 'You got to catch a flight, I am only going to work, you got to win this round'.

So I was on my way to Gatwick! For a change too ! At least it broke the normal day to day routine of heading to Clapham Juntion and Victoria.

About 10 minutes later, an announcement was made informing the passengers that the information displayed on the train was wrong. Thank you very much ! Isn't that a bit too late ?!?!?

On the journey to gatwick, I told the lady i really hope a conductor is going to approach me to check whether i am holding a valid ticket. So i could be 'Mr. Action' exactly like what the lady would have called me if it happened. However, she did offer to explain to the conductor if it happened.

I prepared a script of what to say to the conductor and go through the general order of an arguement if he or she became nasty and issued me with a fine.

On the other hand, i was thinking, I am going to be late to work by about an hour, in theory i wasted an hour doing nothing instead of sitting in front of my laptop and charging my client for £110.

Well, It was partly my fault for not looking at the departure board, it was also partly their fault to have wrong information displayed on the train. Regardless, whether i will be fined, I think it is reasonable to issue an invoice to First Capital to claim for loss of profit.

I think it could be a valid claim.

Why are they allow to issue a penalty for someone who got on the wrong train, whereas I can't charge them for my lost working hour???

What a BIG bully !

Why Blog?

I have been telling my friends that i started my blog since this morning, the first response was probably 'huh?' and followed by 'Why?'.

It is a BLOG people !

May be i have nothing better to do like those who check on Friendster ?

Is that making perfect sense to you all?

What is your plan for the weekend ?

Is that complusory to being perceived as having a life ?

Smokers and non-smokers

Why non-smokers want to enter a pub which is smoky and complaint about it ?

May be the government should ban drinking in a 'pub' ?! And granted more licenses for non-alcohol pub which doeesn't destroy your liver and reduce pub fighting.

Is that possible ? May be not eh ?!

Why do non-smokers have the right to complain, and not non-smokers who have to right to complain about them being whingers?

H2O or fizzy ?!

Nation that don't drink water !

I am amazed when i first found out that you will get a free bottle of water mostly Vittel when you purchase a morning paper.

A Vittel costs £1.50 and the paper costs 80p ?

Is it subsidised by the NHS ?

Single or Attached ?!

Why most of the people have to think that being single is like being an alien?

Weather !

I have been living un the UK for almost 5 years, I probably should consider this is a 2nd home and try to speak in the same wavelength.

One asked "How's the weather today?", one replied "The weather sucks!'

Hello ?!?!?!

In 1700 days out of the 1852 days, the weather were grey, wet, windy, cold, overcast, sometimes snow !

Is there anything to talk about for those who have been living here for years ?!?!

Finally I am living in the 21st century !!

Finally I am living in the 21st century … where most of the people prefer to communicate in this 3rd space. I am not sure whether this revolution makes the world a better place to live but it definitely makes the workplace a better place to work.

You could pretend you are so busy working on your excel spreadsheet, writing emails to your clients but in fact you are chatting in THIS space using MSN, checking who is the newbie or victim being added to your Facebook or Friendster an hour ago.

The saying “Six degree of separation” will soon become three, two or one. The person sits next to you could be your girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend or a man who had a fling with your ex-girlfriend’s sister in the high school summer camp. The chain will go on and on and on until the last man standing on earth.

This could reunite all the friends and enemies in this virtual meeting point; there would be no physical abuse other than verbally if they can’t get along, that is possibly the best solution to the crime rate nowadays.

May be the government along side with the ID card should make it compulsory! And this should be introduced to those who carry knives and guns when they are out shopping or clubbing in town. If the bad link to the bad, the police could possibly be able to solve a crime in a shorter time scale.

Anyway, this is not about the gun culture in the society nowadays. (That could be in the next blog, watch THIS SPACE!)

Most of the people that I know are either a member of Friendster or Facebook. Some of them even have both! When is this become a privilege like having a St. Andrews Golf Club membership? I have been receiving invitations from friends to join the Friendster, Facebook or the most recent one “Multiply”.

Anyway, it is now 2am and I `couldn’t believe I am actually doing this !

Don’t get me wrong; although this sounds like whinging, in fact I quite enjoy this 3rd space.

Afterall, it got me a ‘date’ next Friday!