Yet another milestone crossed. Older by a year, younger by a hair's breadth. Life lived one more year. One more month. One more week. One more day. And now, I am officially 57. It doesn't seem like it, though. If asked how old I am, I would say I like to think I am 16 - give or take 41.
The day yesterday began like a damp squib. I reached my ward at half past eight (as usual), attended the handover, and went to the post-natal ward to do my duty for the next eight-odd hours. In between, I was called to attend two or three deliveries. In the afternoon, I went for lunch and a teaching session in the teaching room below our ward. Lunch was sponsored by Abbott Nutrition, while the teaching was done by Alison Simmonett, one of the consultants who works in our department. Her case presentation and discussion were instructive and stimulated the desire to learn more. Food was a combination of a sandwich/baguette, fruit, fruit juice and some cupcakes. I reached for a Caesar Chicken roll, and it was quite nice.
In the afternoon, work at the post-natal ward continued until four p.m. Then I returned to the paediatric ward to await the evening handover. And at about half past four, I finished for the day. I invited a few of my colleagues to join me for dinner as it was my birthday, but no one was really receptive as they had other commitments. Story of my life, I thought. Everyone loves me for my humility, my knowledge and my affability, but no one forgets that I am at an age they are not comfortable to have an enjoyable evening with.
So, off I went to Costa. Sipping a special Caramel Cortado (that they have only introduced a few days ago), I felt content in some ways and missed merry-making with my family or close friends - which I would have done had I been in Mumbai.
I usually have an extra-hot coffee with a bit more milk than usual, and the baristas know that so well that they serve me my Cortado just the way I like it. This time, the difference was in the caramel granules they put at the bottom of the cup, a shot of caramel that they dissolved in the coffee, and the gentle sprinkle of even more caramel granules that they added over the top. I was digging into the new combination with pleasure. It was an hour or so before I wounded up my stay in Costa. By then, I had spoken to my daughters, my wife, a few other friends, and also played my cell phone games and so on. It was time to return to my rooms. My plan was to go out for dinner later in the evening. It would be a dinner all by myself, but I would make it count.
But destiny had other plans for me. I got into a conversation with Luckey. She told me she was going to go out for drinks with some English friends of hers, but then offered to have me go with them. नेकी और पूछ पूछ ? I agreed immediately. And thus, I went to Ma Kelly's North at Talbot Street for a night out with Luckey and her friends.
The friends were her school friend Roberto (Robs) and his friend Lidya. Both of them stay around London and were vacationing with Robs' parents who stay in Blackpool. I arrived first, and went past the intimidating bouncer, who allowed me in and even opened the door for me. Inside, a live stage show was on with a guitar-playing male singer belting out oldies such as "The Summer of 69". Luckey and her friends joined me after almost 20 minutes of waiting. After the introductions, we went straight to the bar, where I ordered a Jack Daniels with soda and ice.
I had no clue there would be no dinner. I ended up having 2 packs of roasted peanuts as I whiled the evening away with a drink or two, a lot of dancing and some great friendship parleys with Luckey's friends as well as a few new ones - one of whom was a mum of one of the kids who our department treats at the hospital.
After the partying, I went to drop Luckey, and then returned home in a cab. It had started off badly, but when the day ended, I was aglow with happiness. I did have fun, and I did make some new acquaintances.
The day yesterday began like a damp squib. I reached my ward at half past eight (as usual), attended the handover, and went to the post-natal ward to do my duty for the next eight-odd hours. In between, I was called to attend two or three deliveries. In the afternoon, I went for lunch and a teaching session in the teaching room below our ward. Lunch was sponsored by Abbott Nutrition, while the teaching was done by Alison Simmonett, one of the consultants who works in our department. Her case presentation and discussion were instructive and stimulated the desire to learn more. Food was a combination of a sandwich/baguette, fruit, fruit juice and some cupcakes. I reached for a Caesar Chicken roll, and it was quite nice.
In the afternoon, work at the post-natal ward continued until four p.m. Then I returned to the paediatric ward to await the evening handover. And at about half past four, I finished for the day. I invited a few of my colleagues to join me for dinner as it was my birthday, but no one was really receptive as they had other commitments. Story of my life, I thought. Everyone loves me for my humility, my knowledge and my affability, but no one forgets that I am at an age they are not comfortable to have an enjoyable evening with.
So, off I went to Costa. Sipping a special Caramel Cortado (that they have only introduced a few days ago), I felt content in some ways and missed merry-making with my family or close friends - which I would have done had I been in Mumbai.
I usually have an extra-hot coffee with a bit more milk than usual, and the baristas know that so well that they serve me my Cortado just the way I like it. This time, the difference was in the caramel granules they put at the bottom of the cup, a shot of caramel that they dissolved in the coffee, and the gentle sprinkle of even more caramel granules that they added over the top. I was digging into the new combination with pleasure. It was an hour or so before I wounded up my stay in Costa. By then, I had spoken to my daughters, my wife, a few other friends, and also played my cell phone games and so on. It was time to return to my rooms. My plan was to go out for dinner later in the evening. It would be a dinner all by myself, but I would make it count.
But destiny had other plans for me. I got into a conversation with Luckey. She told me she was going to go out for drinks with some English friends of hers, but then offered to have me go with them. नेकी और पूछ पूछ ? I agreed immediately. And thus, I went to Ma Kelly's North at Talbot Street for a night out with Luckey and her friends.
The friends were her school friend Roberto (Robs) and his friend Lidya. Both of them stay around London and were vacationing with Robs' parents who stay in Blackpool. I arrived first, and went past the intimidating bouncer, who allowed me in and even opened the door for me. Inside, a live stage show was on with a guitar-playing male singer belting out oldies such as "The Summer of 69". Luckey and her friends joined me after almost 20 minutes of waiting. After the introductions, we went straight to the bar, where I ordered a Jack Daniels with soda and ice.
I had no clue there would be no dinner. I ended up having 2 packs of roasted peanuts as I whiled the evening away with a drink or two, a lot of dancing and some great friendship parleys with Luckey's friends as well as a few new ones - one of whom was a mum of one of the kids who our department treats at the hospital.
After the partying, I went to drop Luckey, and then returned home in a cab. It had started off badly, but when the day ended, I was aglow with happiness. I did have fun, and I did make some new acquaintances.
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