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Thinking up a coherent piece is beyond me just now. So here are some stray thoughts.

Points or paras #1

‘This, too, shall pass’ is an awesome statement. It’s very optimistic and hope-giving and gives you the mental and emotional strength to grit your teeth and carry on.

Then you’re struck by ‘As soon as it’s done, it starts all over again.’

Best not to think of that at this point, right?

Points or paras #2

Hooray! Top Chef on AXN is a fairly worthy substitute for Masterchef Australia. It’s a much tougher contest – or at least, it seems like a much tougher contest since the contestants are very clear that they’re there to win, whereas in Masterchef Australia, they seemed less single-minded about it – and it moves really fast – there’s an elimination every episode.

What’s missing is the learning that the more leisurely pace of Masterchef allowed, plus in Top Chef the contestants are chefs, not amateurs, so you don’t have the judges pottering around and questioning decisions and techniques. But it’s fun nonetheless.

The only thing I find weird is the host – Padma Laxmi. Does she really never have an expression in face or voice ever?

Points or paras #3

What do you call it when you’re nostalgic for nostalgia? Is there a word?

Years ago, I’d read a book called The Tiger Ladies, a memoir by Sudha Koul, about growing up in Kashmir. It’s a most evocative book, melancholy as all stories of a paradise lost are, but never cloying. In fact, it’s written with a lot of humour.

What I love best about it is the style – it’s in first person, of course, but written in the present tense, so you are with the writer all the way as she grows up, and that means you feel deeply nostalgic too, even if you’ve never even flown over Kashmir in your life.

I was nostalgic for that nostalgia, so I sought out the book and lost myself in it very happily – or sadly, really, because it tugs at your soul. It is beautifully written.

Points or paras #4

Clearly I must be cracking up (see Point or para #1) because I have decided that:

a) You Don’t Mess With the Zohan is such a bad movie that it’s good; and

b) When you come across it on TV while channel surfing, every viewing is worse and worse, which means it’s better and better.

Points or paras #5

I want to hear the sea. I need to hear the sea.

(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

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