The jangling of metal against metal is deafening. It does make one sceptical about any form of government, really, when one has de facto army rule on one side and a least common denominator Hindu nationalist democracy on the other.
Yesterday we had a visitor, the GF’s uncle who accompanied us to Thailand about a year ago. He was here for lunch, which was pleasant though extended. Much time was spent joyously telling tales of various relatives, of which some of the best included an elderly gentleman with a stentorian voice and a somewhat old-fashioned, if well-intentioned, approach to race.