After 2.5 years, I have finally made it to my hometown, Mumbai. At the end of May, I was at Mulund, the northernmost suburb on the central railway. After this is Thane, which is a separate district altogether, but because of how Mumbai sprawls, Thane is usually considered a suburb of Mumbai, but administratively, it is separate. And on Friday, I finally made it home! I now have the slightly over 1000 km trek to Bengaluru and then the 7000 km trek back to Singapore before I can end this calculation.

This month, I read seven books, a mixture of fiction and non-fiction and this brings the total number of books I read this year to 38. I am very comfortable with my reading goals for the year and will most likely surpass them.

Today’s quote is from the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato who founded the Academy, a philosophical school where he taught the philosophical doctrines that would later become known as Platonism. According to Plato, self-mastery and self-control is the ultimate triumph for an individual. By conquering one’s own shortcomings and cultivating self-discipline, one can attain a state of inner harmony, balance, and virtuous living. This victory over oneself implies gaining control over one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions, aligning them with reason and moral principles. In Plato’s philosophy, this self-mastery was seen as an essential aspect of personal growth, ethical conduct, and the pursuit of wisdom. It involves understanding one’s own nature, recognising one’s flaws, and actively working towards self-improvement. Ultimately, this victory over oneself leads to a more fulfilling and virtuous life.

GG is busy with her internship and as much as she likes doing it, she is only now realising how mentally demanding accountancy can be. This is good because she goes into university with open eyes and can navigate what she wants in a career in this field. Some of BB’s friends have gotten their conscription notices and we are waiting now to see when he has to enlist. This will be a new phase in his life and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds for him.

That’s all from me this week. Stay safe and enjoy your weekend!

Today’s quote is attributed to the Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist, George Bernard Shaw. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 1880s to his death and beyond. He wrote more than sixty plays with a range incorporating both contemporary satire and historical allegory and became the leading dramatist of his generation, and in 1925 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Shaw’s quote is that we don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. What he means is that growing old is not only determined by the passage of time or our natural ageing, but instead, it is our attitudes and behaviours that experience the process of ageing. Playing or engaging in activities that bring joy, curiosity, and a sense of wonder to our lives is vital in preserving our youthful energy and outlook.

Finally, after nearly 2.5 years I am within spitting distance of Mumbai! I am less than 100 km from my home in Mumbai and I can’t wait to finally reach my home, before I make the 1000 km trek to where my parents currently live.

GG has secured an internship, so she will be busy until school starts in August. BB on the other hand is still waiting for his National Service notification so that he can start his conscription.

That’s all from me this week. Take care, stay safe and be positive!

I am back from a very hectic trip to India where I had gone to drop my parents back in Bangalore. While there, I also made a whistle-stop trip to Mumbai. I was in Mumbai for just seven hours and that trip, a day before I flew back home to Singapore really took a toll on me. I needed two days once back home to just recover and get back to normal! But here’s a beautiful ariel shot of Mumbai for your viewing pleasure.

Today’s quote is from the American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her decades-long career in country music, Dolly Parton. I found this quote resonated with me, so thought to share it with you all too. Parton says that only after adversity is faced, will one achieve success. Simple, succinct, and so true, right?

The children have been busy with GG gaining an internship opportunity recently. She will start work next week and will work until school begins. She didn’t get her dream school, but hopefully, the school she has enrolled in will give her the opportunities she needs to succeed.

That’s all from me this week. Take care and stay safe!

Namaskaras from Bengaluru! We arrived yesterday and I am here to drop my parents off after two months spent in Singapore. This will be a very short trip because I need to get back to Singapore soon as R, my helper is also going on a pilgrimage to Malaysia later in the week.

Today’s quote comes to us from American self-help author, best known for his book, Think and Grow Rich. According to Hill, any dream will not become a reality without taking any action. And when action is taken, it needs to be done in a structured and logical way so that the goal can be achieved. However, without setting timeframes or deadlines for these priorities, dreams run the risk of being ignored, and the dream remains just that.

Most of us have recovered, though my throat is still a bit scratchy. This flu swept through the household and there was not a single person who was spared.

That’s all from me this week. Stay safe people and stay blessed!

Singapore has been so hot all this month, and because of the humidity levels, even though the temperature showed 32 degrees, it felt like 40 degrees Celcius. And this is not just restricted to Singapore, starting in April 2023, a record-breaking heat wave has affected many Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, China, Thailand and Vietnam with several regional temperature records being set. Temperatures so searing in places that people are frying eggs under the heat of the noonday sun with meteorologists tracking temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celcius in India, Thailand and Myanmar, and 42 to 43 degrees Celcius in Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal and China. These are temperatures that most of these countries have not experienced in decades. People are dying of heatstroke as they gather in thick, large crowds under the sun, and students are landing in hospitals as their schools bake in the heat. Power grids are stretched beyond their capacities, and farmers are looking at failed harvests. According to climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera, the continent is experiencing the worst April heatwave in its history and warned that it will only get worse. This is what climate change is capable of for all those still denying the fact.

Today’s quote is from the creator of a beloved comic strip, Calvin and Hobbs, Bill Watterson. According to Watterson, we are so busy watching out for what is in the future, that we don’t stop and smell the roses and enjoy today. What this means is that we should not let go of what is in front of us today for the chance that the future will be something better.

And speaking of better, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday that Covid-19 deaths had dropped by 95% since the start of 2023, but warned that the virus was still on the move. Countries would need to learn how to manage its ongoing non-emergency effects, including the post-infection condition known as long Covid. Some countries are seeing increases, and over the past four weeks, 14,000 people lost their lives to this disease. With the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant, the virus is still changing, and is still capable of causing new waves of disease and death. So there’s still a need to be vigilant and stay safe.

And on that note, stay safe everyone and stay blessed!