Isn't it crazy how everybody and their grandmother is running marathons these days? If not the whole shebang, those half thingies and dream runs. Why is it even called a dream run I wonder? Perhaps because two months ago you would never have bludy dreamt you'd be running 10 km at a stretch! 

Madness is what I call it. From what I know of the human body there can be nothing more potentially injurious that waking up one day, be it in your twenties even, and realizing you've done absolutely nothing worthwhile in your life, so hey - let me put on those shoes I got real cheap on Jabong and run for it!

I was a terrible runner in school. Nothing screwed me more than running. Sports I loved, the start and stop variety, but start and don't bludy stop till you reach the finish line was not for me. And so when some chaps at work who now call themselves 'runners' asked me to join them, I said, yeah right! If I could not run in my teens, ain't no way in hell I'm running in me forties. But a couple of them went on to complete the half marathon in Mumbai today. Which frankly is quite surprising. Footwear can't have improved that much that a bunch of guys who've never run in their lives before are now doing 21 km in the Mumbai heat!    

And what's with giving people medals just for completing the damn thing? I never got no medal for finishing the 100 metres or even the 800 metres which was a marathon in itself for my poor legs! Whatever happened to winner takes all and no prizes for losing? Because frankly I wonder how many people would still go ahead and compete if they got nothing for participating. Not even the free T shirt! 

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Start of another damn week. The Starbucks near my office plays the most amazing jazz music - Coltrane, Davis and all the greats. After a long day of corporate drudgery that music late in the evening is like a balm for the soul. Even if I can't afford the coffee, just listening to the music makes me glad that they're around. And it's surprising how many people have asked me - what is this music? Can't blame them if all they're exposed to is Bhangra bludy crap pop and Bollywood. Yes, that's a genre of music these days!  

But Starbucks really have to do something about their pricing. I don't care where their ingredients and shit comes from, 150 bucks a cuppa makes me wanna have a beer instead! 

Peace, love, and more beans for your buck!    

Just like the winds eat away at the mountains over thousands of years, people I once knew as beautiful and strong now look weathered and worn. The winds of life have eaten away at them slowly and deceptively such that they cannot see it themselves, but to somebody seeing them after a while it is clearly apparent. Man you look old as shit, what the hell happened to you? is the first thing you want to say, but then you stop. Maybe I look like shit too.

2015 went by so fast it almost took me by surprise. Holy crap, another one gone! And all I did was work, work, and work. For whom, for what, I don't know any more. The thought of leaving it all and riding away into the sunset crosses my mind every single day. It was made worse by seeing so many people who have been an inseparable part of my life for so many years collapse with the weight and give up the fight. Like a comrade wounded in battle you try your best to carry their weight over your shoulders for as far as you can till your legs start to buckle. At some point you must set them down and carry on alone, which is probably the saddest point in a mans life. When he knows there is nothing more he can do for a friend.

you must leave now, take what you need, you think will last

but whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast

yonder stands your orphan with his gun

crying like a fire in the sun

look out the saints are comin' through

and it's all over now, Baby Blue     

It would be nice if we knew for sure it would all end soon. Maybe then we could grab what's important and run, instead of dragging it behind us in a one ton trailer. I wondered what must have been going through the minds of those refugees making their way to Europe last year with only a backpack over their shoulders. But then again perhaps the only way to start anew is to let go of everything you once held precious. 

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In 2003 it was that I first started this blog. The past few years have seen it die out somewhat, but now I want to resurrect it. Because I have so much to say. And nobody to say it to. 

Peace, love, and a new lease of life.