blog

Rhododendron hills

After a very large breakfast we went for a walk around the black lake, passing first through the lakeside mansions (now mostly holiday homes or hotels) and then over a small stone bridge past dairy farms. Then up the side of one of the low hills ringing the lake, where the air was heavy with […]

Gift of the gab

We have arrived at the Carrig House Hotel, a countryside hotel of the type they do particularly well across the British Isles, it seems: an old converted mansion in a beautiful spot (here, on the shore of a lake in County Kerry), with wallpaper and old baths, supremely comfortable beds but two taps instead of […]

Misery

My cold was in full swing today, my throat constricted so I could barely swallow, I was unable to eat more than a few bites of anything (all I ate today was a bit of fish from last night’s dinner for breakfast and half a bowl of soup), and felt weak and hot and cold […]

Banking

I am starting a cold, and feeling feeble. I had agreed to meet the Gentleman Friend in Covent Garden, for lunch at the Barbary, which is one of my favourite restaurants, but was unable to eat much. But it was nice to walk through London, and I sloely felt myself feeling glad and at home […]

Soup

Here we are in London, for a day spent unpacking, tidying and chatting with the GF’s mother. The house has seen certain improvement, including a new stove and an upstairs toilet that is not a relic from the fifties with a wooden seat and a chain that, when pulled, would cause the entire house to […]

House on Jalan Pimping

I have just woken up in a house on Jalan Pimping which, despite its name, is a quiet, wealthy street in Ampang, with largish houses set along the lines of one of KL’s many low hills. It is the home of a friend and we are staying here after having moved out from our KLCC […]

Shadows ahead

The Gentleman Friend’s farewell party was yesterday, at the large and empty home of Green Thumb. Only a few people were invited: the Woodland Creature and Maitreyi, and Instagirl and her techie spouse. It went on too long for my taste as social events invariably do, but it was pleasant. There was one fine moment […]

Discharged

He was discharged this morning, after 2 days without a reaction. Quite weak and full of pinpricks, poor fellow, and it’s not a great time to feel feeble what with our move in 10 days. Anyhow, it’s done. And for less than I feared; I had misunderstood the billing and prepared myself to pay thrice […]

Carrot blender

On Monday night I was dreaming of an ad, the ad was the whole dream. It was like a web ad (something I see rarely thanks to ad blockers), with white space and strong colours and Helvetica script. It was an ad for a blender for carrots. In the midst of the ad, I became […]