7 August 2026

Does anybody know this?

I was busy enjoying reading my book, sitting on a bench in Marietta Square when I saw this. Does anybody know why the park closing time is so precise and so odd? HAve you seen anything like this before? On a slightly different point, shouldn’t the opening hours be 6:00 instead of 6:01?

Category: Travelogs | LEAVE A COMMENT
6 August 2026

Doubling down on my swimming lessons!

Before I left for vacation to the Polynesian Islands, my swim teacher declared that I had cleared Level 1 and was ready for Level 2. I took that as her polite way of saying she had finally had enough of me refusing to get into the water, then bawling loudly to get out once I was in. You know, classic Level 1 behavior.

For a while, I thought I might take a break from my swimming career. But those aforementioned Polynesian islands changed my mind. It was as if the azure waters were calling to me, like sirens luring me out into the sea. So I resolved to get back to my lessons.

Fresh out of my first Level 2 class, I now have a deeper, pardon the pun, understanding of what these new exercises are meant to do. I am apparently now taking in twice as much water through my mouth and nose as I did in Level 1.

At this rate, the highest level of training will have me drinking the whole ocean. Isn’t that also called drowning?

Okay, now I am confused.

🙂

Category: Swimming | LEAVE A COMMENT
2 August 2026

From the bartender’s corner: Kilted Dragon

I had to think a bit before making today’s cocktail. I moved away a little from the Indian theme because I have managed to give myself some acid reflux after all the Indian food. So I was looking for something a little gentler on the stomach.

I went with red dragon fruit juice and Hendrick’s gin, then added a little sugar syrup and tonic water.

The name of the cocktail is a nod to its Chinese (only the dragon part, the fruit itself is from Central America, I think) Scottish (this particular gin) roots.

Category: Cocktails | LEAVE A COMMENT
2 August 2026

My study table’s exchange program

Under the glass on my study table, I have 70 paper currencies, plus one coin that is not shown here. Six of those currencies no longer exist, either because the country itself no longer exists, like Yugoslavia, or because the country later switched to another currency, like the euro. The remaining 64 currencies span 107 countries, since a few of them, like the euro, the U.S. dollar, and the East Caribbean dollar, are used in multiple countries.

Category: Images | LEAVE A COMMENT