Against any backdrop

there will always be

the music

\m/

Gawd I wish I were still in London sometimes.

Not just because of missing my friends

Not just because of missing drunken bike and beer crawls

Not just because there are two Underworld shows at Brixton academy this month

But because there is stuff like this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7675484.stm

ALL

THE

FUCKING

TIME

Wow, what an amazing place. It's like all the books you ever read at once.

Book meme
* Grab the nearest book.
* Open the book to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

"The Seljuks gave way to the Timurids, the royal house of Timur the Lame, known to Europe as Tamerlane, renowned for his sumptuous court at Samarkand."

"The Dust of Empire", Karl E. Meyer

I have a bad stomach and I have to go talk to about 500 people on a subject that I do not know very well.

A bunch of bombs went off in crowded markets in Delhi today. There were two more that were defused. Besides obviously feeling sad for the people who died, I am not sure what I feel about it. It's still a bit remote and mostly I feel a mixture of resignation and anger. But for the people killed and caught up in it, its monstrous that being in the wrong place at the wrong time, going shopping, can cut a life short and deliver tragedy.

I went and looked at a car today. I actually test drove it. My first driving in India and there were no injuries reported. Its a fairly big, boxy utilitarian jeep thing called a Mahindra Bolero. Nice growly diesel and vaguely military land rover feel, but with aircon and an ok stereo. Above all it has a nice high driving position and it is fuck off huge and size is everything here.* Its a seven seater: two up front, three across the middle, and then in the back "cargo area" are two little sideways facing jumpseats. Looking at them I commented that there were no seat belts. The salesman said those were for the kids(!)*

Later we started talking optional accessories (or fitments as they are called). One of them that really charmed me was an "Incense stand and temple". I love that, srsly., I may get two. I am getting a cow catcher up front too. Unlike my Norte Americano counterparts I expect to actually catch some cows with mine. Or goats, camels, sheep and elephants.



*To my tree hugging friends, yes I am appalled at myself too But I thought of riding my bike and then chose life..

**As an aside, I often see Dad taking his three kids to school on a scooter, one in front, two behind. Four heads and inevitably only one helmet: yup, Dad's.

There must be a wedding in the neighbourhood. There were also a bunch of musicians in Rajasthani tribal garb.

Wow.

I just saw an elephant.

It's blowing half a gale out there and because there's been no rain for a week its all dust and apocalypse. There is almost constant thunder and lightning but no rain yet. With 36C temperature and 110% humidity it has a real end of the world feeling. Just had an awesome tuktuk ride home from a friends place.

Transition time.

I had an emergency root canal today. And that was the best part of my whole damn day because it got me out of the office.

I'm finding Bollywood soundtracks rather catchy

I saw a car from a driving school yesterday

My first thought was what the fuck can they possibly teach students that would be of practical use here?

"Right. Lesson One. That is the accelerator. That is the brake. That is the horn. Apply all of them liberally and randomly. Under no circumstances allow anyone to overtake you.

Here's your diploma."

The fact that the car looked like it had been rolled five or six times only deepened the guffaw factor.

In other news, I am settling into work and I'm planning to look at a jeep on Sunday and another one on Monday.

Carrrrzzzz!

My stuff is here

I have interweb

My phone works

It's coming together at work

I am eyeing trips to the Himalayas

I want to buy a jeep

I want to start barbecueing

:petit-boing:

The movers finished up an hour ago. Since the furniture is all staying you only realize that the place has been emptied when you open cupboards or realize there is no linen on the beds. Feels slightly weird though.

Have three separate good bye type dealios tonight. Then the big one tomorrow. Two year postings are teh suck. I HATE saying goodbye.

They picked the lil fella up today

He's off on a great sea voyage to Canada

I'll miss you little buddy

*sniff*

More coolness via Karl:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7512490.stm (needs sound)

Full story here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7512072.stm

I believe that is Olympic Stadium in Montreal built for the 1976 Olympics. They'll have that removable roof working any day now.