The Plot Thickens

Still pleasantly lost in Lee Child's Blue Moon, despite being impossibly busy. The busyness means I can only lose myself for a few minutes at a time, unfortunately, but being lost with Jack Reacher helps deal with the busyness.

As always I'm bowled over by the style of the novel - the slow-mo action sequences are models of finely-honed prose - but this time around I'm finding myself increasingly impressed at just strong Child's plotting is, and just how clever - yet without any kind of showing off. The details of our hero's frenetic involvement with the Albanian and Ukrainian gangs that dominate the small town he finds himself in are woven so tightly that they're close to impossible to unravel for someone of my limited apprehension, yet I find myself trusting in the integrity of the plotting, accepting that it all dovetails, though I haven't the nous to quite see the joins.

It's funny that for someone who reads so many novels I've never really developed in terms of following complex plots - or ever been able to actually conceive of a real plot myself in my own bits of writing for the stage. 

Run Down

Today for the first time ever I needed to pop back home in the early afternoon due to a lack of energy. It wasn't my good self short of oomph, by the way. No, the thing lacking was my handphone. I'd hardly used it in the morning, but it was down to 2% charge by 2.00 pm necessitating a scramble back to grab a charger. That this was a necessity is a sad indication of just how dependent I've become on the darn thing - I was worried in case I wouldn't get to receive some kind of urgent communication in the afternoon.

I'm completely baffled as to what was ailing the phone. Presumably our recent holiday had made it feel more laidback than usual and it just wasn't up to the demands of a working day. In contrast, this old body of mine managed to keep going fueled for the most part by cups of tea. Works better than electricity, I reckon.

Top Man

Macca at Glastonbury at eighty. Good grief! Talk about setting the bar high, eh?

The bit with the duet with John brought serious tears to my eyes, old softy that I am.

Boosted

Noi and I went to get our second booster shots this afternoon. It was an amazingly straightforward process. No appointment needed: just had to walk in and we'd both been jabbed within five minutes. After that, fifteen minutes waiting to see if there was any adverse reaction and we were free to go, with a gift of a box of face-masks to see us on our way.

So far neither of us has felt any side-effects. Yesterday Fuad was telling me he'd felt under the weather for three days after his shot, so my general sense of hunky-doryness comes as a bit of a relief, especially since I'm back at work tomorrow. In fact, I was a bit annoyed at myself for not having seen to this earlier, but it looks like I might have got away with it.

Was thinking back to my first jab, back in January 2021. That one involved a long wait and seemingly endless admin. But well worth it, especially considering it as one small part of the vast national effort to respond sensibly to the threat posed by Covid-19. I thought of myself as lucky to be in the right place then. Still do. Even more so.

A Man In Knead

19.00

Now at Fuad & Rozita's place waiting for my turn for a massage from the redoubtable Kak Sabariah. Noi has just survived the full body treatment but I'm limiting myself, wisely, to the old head and shoulders. Looking forward to the pleasure and the pain - likely to be about equal if previous experience is anything to go by.

22.40

I'd forgotten just how relentless Kak Sabariah is when administering a massage. Now I remember. And how!

Getting Lost

Needed to lose myself in a book, and chose the right one. Am engrossed in Blue Moon, one of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. Prose so taut it hums with each encounter.

Paying The Price

Some concerns in the press here regarding the rising cost of living, with inflation moving to over 3%. But that compares favorably with the figures from the UK. Still puzzled as to how anyone back there ever expected a Brexit dividend. Wonder if those who did are now aware of just how naive they were. Doubt it, somehow.

Back Again

Of late I've been struggling with a mild stiffness in the muscle around my left hip. I mentioned it briefly to my back doc at my appointment in late May, but he gave me a clean bill of health in terms of the mobility of my back. To be on the safe side I came away with the usual variety of pills that I'd need to take in the event of any problems, and I'm glad I did. 

Late on Monday night, when we were sleeping at Melaka, I felt a distinct twinge in the vulnerable spot and woke next morning to distinct discomfort. Sensibly I medicated immediately, especially in view of the fact I had to drive a fair distance during the day. The pills seem to have done the trick since I was more mobile after the drive than I was before it.

And today I seem to be back to something like normal. Indeed, I'm hoping to resume some kind of activity at the gym soon since it's now open for business. I might just give it a go over the weekend (and I hope those don't turn out to be famous last words.)

The Long And Winding Road

13.55 

Just got back from visiting the nearby cemetery to pay our respects at the graves of Mak, Abah & Nenek. Lots of memories. Good ones.

Now preparing for an afternoon's driving. Hope it's just the afternoon and doesn't seep into the evening.

18.35

The fates afforded us a smooth journey home with just a small jam at the Singapore side. I'm tempted to say that after the miseries of the journey up, and our previous experience in March 2020 of the epic jam at Tuas before the boarder was closed, that we deserved an easy time. But, of course, nobody ever deserves such. I remind myself to just be grateful when such grace comes my way.

Not Standing Still

Temporarily resident at Mak's house in Melaka, where we arrived late last night, after attending a rather jolly birthday do for Hamzah and Sabrina in Shah Alam. We'll spend a second night here before wending our way southwards.

It's been more than two and a half years since we found ourselves here (back in September 2019, then accompanied by our niece, Zahira) and things have changed somewhat with altered circumstances for various family members, so we've needed to adjust the routines which we've generally forgotten. I tend to think of life here as being essentially static when, of course, there's no such thing even in the sleepiest of corners. It took me quite a while to remember how the shower worked, but happily it flowed eventually, which is all you need really. That and a bed and a hot cup of tea.