Sunday: Ind vs Zim T20 WC 2022

The first thing I saw when I awoke this morning was my fb feed.. loads of pictures of a house party where my dear wife had hosted a number of friends both old and new. One particular post was of a video where one of the guests had been playing guitar and singing Jamaican Farewell. I wished she hadn't posted it. And I told her so- this led to some slight tension filled exchanges but by the time I had finished my lunch ( which was bangus sisig for the first time) things had settled down amicably. The bangus sisig was much better than I had thought- I had been avoiding ordering this from the room service menu for a while- because I thought it might be too fishy for me.. bangus was milkfish - not one of my favorites. But the fish was well fried and crispy and with the onions and tomatoes tasted all right.

 

Following lunch I began to feel drowsy again so I lay down for a bit, reflecting. Soon I arose and checked cricinfo on my phone.  What a shock- South Africa had crashed out with a loss to Netherlands- which meant both India and Pakistan were through and so the much vaunted Ind vs Zim game was just relevant in so far as determing whether India or Pakistan would top the group. If India won it would top and play England in the semis. If pakistan topped India would play new zealand. new Zealand was a much less preferred opponent - India’s record against them especially in world cups had been absymal. I saw that India had started to bat. I jumped out of my stupor and changed into my maroon uniqlo tshirt and dull green Marks and spencers corduroys. I loved them both. And stepping quickly into my moribund Steve Madden mocassins, I headed out to what was becoming my number 2 watering hole in Makati-H and J sports bar. It was now a routine 25  minute haul via Ayala and Makati Avenues. Upon reaching at this early hour I usually always found a seat at the corner with a TV screen right above- almost personalised. It was showing F1 racing- so I asked one of the waitresses to have it changed to Cricket. Soon I was ensconced in a comfortable chair, with a cold beverage bu my side. However the Indian top order was  not really giving it a go- and suddenlyl went from 80 for 1 to 103 for 4. But then I was witness to a form of batting bestiality from the willow of Suryakumar Yadav (SKY).  We eventually won the game easily and I headed back after 2 beers and half an order of Masala Peanuts. Upon returning to my room I changed and went for my 40 laps in the pool. And then later I ended up ordering a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. I dont know why- I really should no much better. It’s like I need to be entertained by food, eventually on any given holiday, I had to be dazzled by some spray of deliciousness from some quarter else the day felt incomplete. This really has to be overcome. Maybe I needed to get into meditation- as many have averred and suggested. If not for any other reason than just to avoid this random and meaningless gluttony. Which i know was a foil for something missing. It was not merely boredom. Not merely ennui. It was a dull pain that came from guilt..guilt of not being home, not being there for the boys, not being there for anyone really. And for what? Kids college education? Maybe..but maybe they'd get scholarships. Or maybe theyd choose a relatively affordable college. But one always ahd to prepare for the extremes. And so here I was. Freedom express running on guilt-laden rails- in a stop-start fashion.