Swinging For Compass

Thursday, 23 September 2010

That Midnight Sun

You could write a book called ‘The Things That Guests Don’t Know.’ It would be a very big book. You could write a book called ‘The Things That Guests Should Know.’ It would be a very small book.

Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Dream Catch Me

I saw her waist deep in the water, putting goggles on. She swam into the sunset. Her head rose and dropped with the waves. Her arms cut through the water. She became smaller.

I couldn’t see her anymore.

I wonder where she went.

I wonder if she ever came back at all. ( - The Mermaid)

Tuesday, 21 September 2010

The world on your shoulders.

Outside the office, three Filipinos worked. They were holding a ladder and wires. The imported do-all technicians. Nothing breaks they can’t fix.

‘Hey guys, what’s happening here?’ I said.

‘The demolition team is here.’ Ted said.

Stereotypes are awesome.

Gatwick airport, lady at security checkpoint asked if I would allow her to test my hat. ‘Asking’ at an English airport is a very British courteous formality. Even so, I consented happily, seeing no trouble in this. She took me and the hat to a little counter and swiped my hat with white cloth.

‘Just checking for explosives, you see?’ She placed the cloth in a futuristic detector.

In my mind, images of an explosive straw hat (old Q’s design maybe) going out in a ball of fire, Hollywood slow-mo, shards and debris everywhere. I was very caught up by this vision. So when I said -

‘Wow. That would be so cool’ I wasn’t exactly thinking about what I was saying. The lady gave me a sideways quizzical look. The machine rung, vindicating. She returned my hat, I tried to explain, ‘No, that wasn’t what I meant’ but all I got in return was:

‘Uh-huh. Have a nice flight now.’